New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said it will consider on July 10 the pleas challenging the validity of the Election Commission's decision to conduct a comprehensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
A part-time working bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi allowed the plea of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, for an urgent hearing in the matter, and said the court will consider the matter on Thursday.
Assembly elections are due in Bihar in November. Before that, questions are being raised on the Election Commission's decision to carry out a special and thorough revision of the electoral rolls. Apart from various political parties, NGOs have been openly protesting citing practical difficulties, including the stipulated time for the revision. They say that this could deprive a large number of voters of their franchise.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha, NGOs - Association for Democratic Reforms, PUCL and social activist Yogendra Yadav, among others, have filed separate petitions in the apex court challenging the validity of the Election Commission's June 24, 2025 decision.
The petitioners claimed that the move was in violation of provisions of Articles 14, 19, 21, 325 and 326 of the Constitution as well as Rule 21A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Registration of Voters Rules, 1960.
He argued that if this order was not set aside, millions of voters could be arbitrarily and without due process deprived of electing their representatives. This can disrupt free and fair elections and democracy in the country, which are part of the basic structure of the Constitution, he added.
