Supreme Court Flags Timing of Bihar Voter Roll Revision, Questions EC’s Move Ahead of Assembly Elections

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday raised concerns over the Election Commission of India’s decision to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Bihar electoral rolls, questioning the timing of the exercise with state assembly elections just months away.

A bench of the apex court, while hearing multiple Public Interest Litigations (PILs), observed that the issue is not with the process itself but with its scheduling. “The problem is not the exercise, but the timing of it,” the court reportedly remarked, highlighting the potential for disruption so close to elections.

The SIR process, which involves verification and revision of voter data, was launched by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of the state polls expected in November 2025. However, critics argue that the timing could lead to confusion, exclusions, or irregularities in the final voter list, especially in marginalized communities.

So far, six PILs have been filed in connection with the matter, including petitions from Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), and other civil society groups and individuals. The petitioners have requested an immediate stay on the ongoing voter roll revision, citing risks to electoral fairness and transparency.

The petitioners allege that a sudden revision at this stage could lead to mass deletions or questionable additions without adequate public notice or verification, potentially impacting the electoral outcome. They have asked the court to either halt the revision or postpone its implementation until after the elections.

The Supreme Court, while not issuing an immediate stay on the SIR process, has sought a response from the Election Commission and scheduled further hearings in the coming weeks.

The Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled later this year, are expected to be a high-stakes contest involving all major parties, including the ruling BJP-led NDA alliance, the RJD-Congress combine, and other regional players. With intense political competition and voter sensitivities at play, the electoral roll revision has become a flashpoint in the broader debate around electoral integrity and institutional accountability.