The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the revision of the voter list before the Bihar assembly elections. The court described it as constitutional responsibility.
In the Supreme Court, a bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned the timing of special intensive revision (SIR) i.e. Voter List Revision. The court told the Election Commission that Aadhaar, Voter ID, Ration Card should also be considered an identity card during SIR in Bihar.
According to the bench, no petitioner, including leaders of 10 opposition parties, has not demanded an interim ban on this process of the Election Commission. The Supreme Court sought a reply from the Election Commission by July 21 on the petitions. The next hearing was fixed for 28 July.
Special intensive revision (SIR) i.e. Voter List Revision was heard for about 3 hours in the court. The petitioners allege that the voter list revision rules are being sidelined. Citizenship of voters is being tested. This is against the law.
RJD MP Manoj Jha, TMC MP Mahua Moitra has filed petitions against SIR. On behalf of the petitioner, lawyers Gopal Shankar Narayan, Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi cross -examined. The Election Commission was advocated by former Attorney General KK Venugopal, Rakesh Dwivedi and Maninder Singh.
The Supreme Court told the Commission, we are not doubting your intentions
The Supreme Court told the lawyer Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Commission, “We are not doubting your intentions, but the perception also matters. We do not want to stop you, because it is a constitutional obligation.”
Dwivedi said that so far 60% of the voters have verified their information. The court assured that no voter would be removed from the voter list without hearing.
The Supreme Court said, “We cannot stop a constitutional institution from doing what is his responsibility. But at the same time we will not allow it to do something that is not his responsibility.”
Supreme Court said- next hearing on July 28
The Election Commission assured the Supreme Court that no voter would be excluded from the voter list. The next hearing in the case will be held on 28 July.
