A decade-long livelihood cut short

Hussain, originally from Gagandiwan village under Laheri police station in Biharsharif, had earned his livelihood for nearly 20 years by selling clothes door-to-door in rural Nawada on a bicycle, according to Indian Express. Over the past few years, he had been living with his in-laws in Barui village, Nawada district, from where he would travel daily to surrounding villages to sell garments.

Family members described him as a quiet worker who had never faced complaints or conflict in the course of his business, as per The New Indian Express.

Night of December 5: From seeking help to being hunted

On the night of December 5, Hussain was returning from Dumri village after a day of hawking when his bicycle reportedly developed a puncture. Near Bhattapar (also referred to as Bhatta) village, which falls under Roh police station, he stopped to ask locals about a puncture repair shop, as reported by Indian Express.

According to his brother Mohammad Shakib Alam, instead of helping him, a group of villagers questioned him about his name and profession, reported Scroll. Soon after identifying him, they allegedly dragged him off his bicycle and began assaulting him.

Robbery and illegal confinement

Hussain told investigators and media, in a video recorded from his hospital bed, that the attackers robbed him of cash—variously reported as Rs 8,000 and Rs 18,000—along with his bicycle and clothes (ThePrint).

He was then tied by his hands and feet and locked inside a room, where the violence intensified over several hours. What began with a smaller group of assailants reportedly expanded as more villagers joined, eventually forming a mob of 15–20 people.

Extreme and prolonged torture

The assault, as described by Hussain and later corroborated in parts by medical findings, involved sustained and sadistic violence. He stated that he was beaten repeatedly with bricks and iron rods, resulting in fractured fingers and hands, provided Indian Express.

In one of the most chilling aspects of the case, Hussain alleged that the mob stripped him to check his private parts to confirm his religion, after which the assault escalated further, as per ThePrint. He said petrol was poured on him, and his body was branded with a heated iron rod, causing severe burns that peeled his skin.

Hussain also alleged that his ears and fingertips were cut with pliers, his nails were pulled out, and a steel rod was used to strike his head, causing serious head injuries.

At one point, according to his statement, one attacker climbed onto his chest and attempted to strangle him, leading to blood gushing from his mouth. The assault reportedly continued intermittently through the night as more assailants arrived.

Police intervention after hours of violence

An emergency Dial 112 call was eventually made, following which Roh police reached the village at around 2:30 a.m. on December 6, several hours after the assault began, as reported by Indian Express.

Furthermore, police sources told The Indian Express that Hussain was found in a grievously injured condition. He was taken first to the Roh Primary Health Centre, then referred to Nawada Sadar Hospital, and later shifted to Vardhman Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Pawapuri, as his condition worsened.

Despite medical intervention, Hussain remained critical. He ultimately died nearly a week later while being transported from Pawapuri to Patna for advanced care.

Victim’s statement before death

Crucially, Hussain managed to give a video statement from his hospital bed, accessed by ThePrint. In the recording, he named the acts of torture inflicted upon him and explicitly stated that he was targeted after the assailants identified him as Muslim.

While some senior police officials later claimed that the religious aspect did not appear in the wife’s initial written complaint, the existence of Hussain’s recorded statement has become a key piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation.

FIR by wife: Allegations of false theft and mob violence

On December 6, Hussain’s wife Shabnam Parveen filed a detailed complaint naming 10 residents of Bhattapar village and 15 unidentified persons, reported Indian Express. She alleged that her husband was falsely accused of theft, tied up, robbed, and brutally tortured.

She also stated that when she and her relatives reached Bhattapar to look for Hussain, they were abused and threatened by villagers, prompting the police to add further sections relating to intimidation and criminal force.

Based on her complaint, police registered an FIR invoking multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections dealing with unlawful assembly, rioting, grievous hurt using dangerous weapons, abetment, common intention, and group violence motivated by discrimination. After Hussain’s death, Section 103 (murder) was added, as per The New Indian Express.

Counter-FIR against the injured victim

Within hours of the assault coming to light, a cross-complaint was filed by Sikandar Yadav, one of the men later named as an accused by Parveen. Yadav alleged that Hussain had committed theft at his house that night, claiming the loss of jewellery and utensils (ThePrint).

Based on this complaint, police initially booked the severely injured Hussain under sections of the BNS relating to theft and trespass, even as he lay hospitalised. Senior police officials later stated that both FIRs are being investigated simultaneously, a pattern that has drawn criticism from rights groups for effectively placing the victim and perpetrators on the same legal footing.

Arrests, official stance, and denial of lynching

Nawada Superintendent of Police Abhinav Dhiman confirmed that a Special Investigation Team was constituted, which arrested four suspects within 24 hours, followed by further arrests over the next few days.

As of the latest reports of Indian Express, eight to nine persons have been arrested or detained, including several named in the FIR, while police continue raids to trace the remaining accused,

Despite the nature of the allegations, some senior officials initially denied that the case amounted to a religion-based lynching, describing it instead as an assault arising out of “mistaken identity” linked to theft suspicions, according to The Print. This position stands in contrast to the victim’s recorded account and the brutality documented in medical examinations.

Family left devastated

Hussain, described by his family as the sole breadwinner, is survived by his wife and three children. His brother told The Print that the family has suffered an irreversible loss and now faces an uncertain future.

As the investigation continues, the case has become emblematic of mob violence enabled by rumours, identity checks, and delayed state intervention, raising urgent questions about accountability, police conduct, and the protection of vulnerable livelihoods in India.

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Silent Scars: How Muslim widows of hate crimes endure layered, unseen oppression

CJP Files complaint with NCM over escalating Hate Speeches during Hindu Sanatan Ekta Padyatra

Hindu Nationalism’s sectarian nationalism and its concept of ‘duties and rights’

The post Muslim clothes hawker dies after prolonged mob torture in Bihar’s Nawada appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Free Speech Collective

With Bihar in the midst of Vidhan Sabha elections, 2025, this media tracker exposes the illusion of free speech and independent journalism in the state. The last five years have been marked with assaults on journalists, with six killings and eleven instances of attacks. The general climate for free speech has also been affected by detention and arrest of journalists and threats to editors of prominent dailies, coupled with defamation and censorship of social media posts.

(Visit the Free Speech Tracker or scroll to the end for more details.)

By 2015, when Nitish Kumar was re-elected as Chief Minister, several independent journalists began using social media platforms to publish stories, and alongside began facing reprisal. By 2020, when the Nitish Kumar government was re-elected as part of the JDU-led NDA along with the Bharatiya Janata Party, repression on the media continued unabated, this time targeting social media.

Bihar struggles with low socio-economic indicators. It consistently throws up high unemployment rates and there is an abject lack of facilities for health and education. In the NITI Aayog 2019-20 State Health Index, Bihar was ranked 18th out of 19 large states. In March 2025, Niti Aayog’s Macro and Fiscal Landscape of the State of Bihar said that the sex ratio is lower than the national average. Low literacy levels and low per capita income and high unemployment, forces lakhs of youth to migrate every year. With little or no industries, agriculture is a mainstay and government employment is a desperate struggle for thousands of youth. In NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index of 2023-24, Bihar was adjudged the worst performer in terms of social, economic and environmental parameters.

The large-scale deletion of voters in Bihar in the run up to the Assembly election, ostensibly to revise the electoral rolls, is bound to have an impact on the polls. But the slow erasure of an independent media that can question and hold its government accountable can only further weaken the foundations of a democracy.

Details of Free Speech Violations in Bihar, November ’20-’25:

Read FSC’s special features:

Wanted: A Responsible Media in Bihar, by Kiran Shaheen.

Criminalisation of politics in Bihar, by C P Jha.

Related:

From Welfare to Expulsion: Bihar’s MCC period rhetoric turns citizenship into a campaign weapon

Bihar Elections Build-up: ‘Won’t allow namaz’, ‘namak haram’, BJP MPs’ communal hate-filled remarks draw fire

Caste and Indifference: Two separate incidents of rape against minor Dalit girls in UP and Bihar receive no media coverage, protest or outrage

The post Bihar & the Delusion of Independent Journalism: A Free Speech Record of Five Years appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A standard EC notice to affected voters states that inconsistencies in documents have raised “reasonable doubt” about their eligibility to remain on the electoral roll. Individuals have seven days to present original documents to avoid deletion — a deadline many fear they cannot meet. As per the Election Commission, the draft electoral roll released on August 1 includes 7.24 crore voters. These individuals have until September 1 to submit documents proving their eligibility, choosing from a list of 11 approved options provided by the EC.

Citizenship proof becomes central eligibility test

For the first time in decades, the revision is not merely checking age, address, or duplication — it requires proof of Indian citizenship, especially for those enrolled after 2003 or born after July 1, 1987.

The verification exercise has flagged individuals despite holding multiple valid Indian IDs like Aadhaar, ration cards, and domicile certificates. However, citizenship status, not document possession, is now the core criterion. Some individuals have been labelled as suspected nationals of Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, or Afghanistan based on undocumented suspicions or familial ties.

65 lakh names already deleted in draft roll published on August 1

The EC’s draft voter list, released on August 1, showed a staggering 65 lakh deletions across Bihar. The reasons cited include death, migration, duplication, and untraceability. The fresh batch of 3 lakh names flagged under “doubtful citizenship” is over and above this earlier purge.

Simultaneously, the EC claims that 99.11% of electors have submitted documents for verifications. Adding further that the final rolls will be published on September 30, ahead of the likely November assembly polls, as per a report in the Times of India.

The Seemanchal region has emerged as the epicentre of this sweeping scrutiny. These districts, abutting international borders, are home to migrants, minorities, and people with historically ambiguous documentation, a legacy of partition, porous borders, and circular migration.

Discrepancies in documents were first observed by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), followed by local inquiries before notices were issued.

What the notice states?

According to a report in the The Indian Express, the printed notice issued by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) does not cite any specific rule or legal provision. It simply states that it is a notice for the “verification of entries in the draft roll.” It mentions that the elector’s name was included in the draft roll based on the enumeration form and declaration.

“Lekin aapke dwara prastut dastavezo ke satyapan ke dauraan, aisa pratit hota hai ki aapke dwara prastut dastavezo mein visangatiya hai, jisse es vidhan sabha shetra mein matdata ke roop mein panjikrit hone ke aapke aadhikar par yathochit sandeh utpan hota hai (However, during the verification of the documents submitted by you, discrepancies were found that create reasonable doubt as to your right to be enrolled as an elector of this Assembly constituency),” one of the notice states.

With little access to legal aid, and many being illiterate or semi-literate, residents are struggling to understand or respond to EC directives. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) admit being overwhelmed.

Minimal response from major political parties

Despite the scale of potential disenfranchisement, political parties have shown limited engagement. Only 117 formal objections or claims have been filed in the past month — 108 by CPI-ML, and just 9 by RJD. No ruling or major national party has mounted a legal or political challenge.

Meanwhile, as of August 28, the ECI had received a total of 2,11,650 applications from individuals and political parties seeking inclusion or deletion of names from the draft rolls.

No tribunal, no appeal mechanism in Bihar

In Assam, voters marked ‘D’ (doubtful) are referred to Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) under the Foreigners Act, 1946, or its successor, the Foreigners Act, 2025. In Assam, laws mandated the formation of the FTs that have been since strongly critiqued for not functioning with a clear constitutional framework that follows the Indian law of evidence; in Bihar and the rest of India where the ECI has threatened to bring in the expanded SIR, there exists no law that mandates the formation of such Tribunals.

Sabrang India, in its July 9, 2025 report, made a strong apprehension that “The Centre appears to be engineering an Assam-like situation in Bihar — without legislative backing or procedural safeguards.”

The Assam precedent: a warning, not a model

In Assam, following an ECI order in 1998, thousands of individuals were marked as ‘D-voters’. Today, around 1.2 lakh people remain disenfranchised, still waiting for Foreigners Tribunals to rule on their status. The process has been slammed for being arbitrary, slow, and opaque, with no adherence to the Indian Evidence Act or constitutional protections.

If a similar path is followed in Bihar without any legislative oversight, lakhs may permanently lose the right to vote — not due to foreign origin, but due to bureaucratic misclassification and the absence of legal recourse.

SC allows online inclusion requests with Aadhaar, urges political parties to actively assist

On August 22, the Supreme Court issued key directions to address procedural and accessibility concerns in the electoral roll revision process. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi ruled that electors excluded from the draft roll may submit inclusion applications online, along with a copy of their Aadhaar card.

The Court also directed all 12 recognised political parties in Bihar to activate their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and assist citizens in filing claims and objections. Noting the lack of engagement, the Bench observed that “Although there are about 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents of political parties, only two objections have come from them.”

Referring to the ECI’s submission, the Court highlighted that if all BLAs verify just 10 documents each day, 16 lakh verifications could be completed within 4–5 days, reinforcing the decision to retain the existing deadline.

Related

Bihar SIR: New elector applications doubled in just 2 days, showing a 96.6% increase

The Stolen Franchise: Why the Election Commission cannot escape accountability

99.8% of 65 lakh voter deletions go unchallenged on 13th day of objection period

The post In Bihar 3 lakh electors served with doubtful citizen notices by Election Commission appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This sweeping deletion effort, aimed at cleaning the rolls of ineligible, duplicate, or deceased voters, has left citizens and observers closely watching what follows. The official process for claims and objections began on August 1, giving voters a 30-day window to verify or challenge their status.

Now, 13 days into that window, an emerging picture is starting to take shape—one marked by rapid new additions, minimal corrections, and a notable silence from political stakeholders.

65 lakh deletions across 243 constituencies

The deletions cut across all 243 assembly constituencies in Bihar, averaging 26,748 names removed per constituency. While the ECI has not detailed the methodology behind each deletion, reports indicate that no individual notice or prior inquiry was issued in such cases. Instead, the burden of proof shifted to voters themselves—many of whom may not yet know their names are missing.

This procedural shift means that reinstatement requires affected voters to proactively file a claim or objection through the official process. But so far, that response has been minimal.

Claims and objections: 0.2% response so far

Between August 1 and August 13, only 17,665 claims and objections were filed statewide—0.2% of the total deletions. Put differently, over 99.8% of the 65 lakh voters removed have not had their deletions challenged.

Despite an uptick in the second week, daily claims and objections have struggled to cross even 3,700 on the best-performing day, August 13. In contrast, several earlier days saw daily new voter additions well above 8,000.

New additions surge: 74,525 applications filed

In contrast to the low correction rate, the number of new voter applications has shown strong and consistent growth. Over the same 13-day period, the ECI recorded 74,525 Form 6 submissions—applications to register new voters, typically youth turning 18 or first-time registrants.

The application rate accelerated steadily after the first two days:

• August 3: 1,151 new applicants
• August 6: 4,272 in one day
• August 8: 8,543 in one day
• August 13: 10,934—the highest single-day tally

This means that for every one claim or objection filed, the system processed more than four new voter applications.

Average of 306 voters added per seat

The cumulative total of 74,525 new applications averages out to 306 voters added per assembly seat. This figure, while mathematically straightforward, reveals a consistent spread of new additions across the state—mirroring the earlier deletion distribution of approximately 26,748 per constituency.

The 306-per-seat figure presents a state-wide average that has drawn interest in electoral circles. Whether this reflects organic participation, administrative uniformity, or structured outreach remains a matter for observation, but the numbers alone suggest a consistent tempo in new voter addition across regions.

Political parties stay silent in claims process

While opposition parties have mounted strong public protests against the SIR process—organising protests and accusing the ECI of “vote theft”—their procedural actions tell a different story. Despite challenging the process in the Supreme Court, no political party filed a single claim or objection between August 1 and 13, according to ECI records.

This procedural inaction may be a strategic choice to seek the process’s annulment, but it has left the ongoing voter list revision unopposed by key stakeholders. Consequently, formal corrections are being pursued almost exclusively by individual citizens at a very low rate, tilting the balance of activity overwhelmingly toward new additions rather than restoring the removed names.

A changed electorate in the making

With 65 lakh names removed, 74,525 new added, and fewer than 18,000 corrections filed, Bihar’s draft electoral roll is undergoing a fundamental reshaping. As the September 30 deadline for final publication of the rolls approaches, the question is less about intent and more about impact; who remains, who is added, and who is still missing?

The window for filing objections and making claims remains open, and the coming days will determine whether the current trends hold—or shift with public awareness and outreach.

At a glance: numbers that define the revision

• Names deleted from draft electoral rolls: 65,00,000
• Claims and objections received (Aug 1–13): 17,665
• % of deletions challenged: 0.272%
• % unchallenged deletions: 99.728%
• New voter applications received (Form 6) till August 13: 74,525
• Average new voters per constituency: 306
• Claims/objections filed by political parties: 0

Numbers without noise

With more than 99.8% of deletions remaining unchallenged, and a rapidly growing list of new applicants, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is steadily altering Bihar’s voter base. No accusations, no official controversies—just a quiet but measurable shift captured in daily numbers.

As the process continues toward finalisation, the real test may lie not only in courtrooms or press conferences—but in how many citizens take steps to verify their presence, assert their status, and claim their vote.

Related

Vote for Democracy: Statistical, legal and procedural irregularities dot Bihar’s controversial SIR process

Bihar SIR: 65 Lakh electors flagged for deletion, SC said “if there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in”

ECI to SC: Voter ID insufficient for Bihar roll, defends citizenship verification power

The post 99.8% of 65 lakh voter deletions go unchallenged on 13th day of objection period appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Since end July 25 and after August 1, when the ECI published the draft first list excluding a staggering 65 lakh voters, the VFD team of experts and legal analysts have scrutinised the ECI’s own data and come up with startlingly inconsistent hike periods of deletions.

VFD released this data today through a Facebook live event. The entire report and power point presentation may be viewed here.

Vote for Democracy: Key findings from the analysis of ECI data

1. Legally unsanctioned process: The term Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has no legal or statutory basis under existing electoral laws. The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 only permits summary, intensive, or partial revisions. The ECI not only devised a new nomenclature but also violated Rule 8 by introducing non-standard enumeration forms and failing to provide receipts or duplicate copies to electors, compromising basic procedural safeguards.
2. Statistical irregularities and data “jugglery”: Between July 14 and July 25, deletion categories such as “deceased,” “permanently shifted,” and “untraceable” showed sudden, exponential jumps that defy logical or statistical explanation:

• Unprecedented one-day spike in “deceased” voters: A staggering 2, 11, 462 electors (18,66,869 – 16,55,407) are claimed to have been found dead over just one day, between July 21 and July 22, 2025.
• Mass constituency-level removals in over one day: Worse, 870 electors on an average per constituency have been removed over one day, between July 21 and July 22. This makes the electors removed per constituency in that period at 2,11,462. Is this part of a genuine clean-up process or a pre-determined mass deletion?
• Five-day surge in “deceased” category: During the last five days of the SIR process, July 21 to July 25, the ECI has magically raised the number of dead electors from 16,55,407 on July 21, 2025 to a significant 22 lakh dead voters, four days later, on July 25. Thus, we see a hike of deletions in this category at 5,44,593 in 243 constituencies (which is a figure that is 2,241 dead electors per constituency).
• Sharp three-day escalation in “permanently shifted” voters: The hike in the mass deletions under the head “permanently shifted” is too high to be digested and the same in the last three days is 15,24,769 for all the 243 constituencies, and this turns out to be 6,275 per constituency on an average. Thus, the last three days have been the most marked deletion days (!!!) for the ECI’s Bihar SIR process where 8,516 electors have been removed from each of the state’s 243 constituencies.
• Deletions exceeding forms processed: All this already points to what amounts to a jugglery in data science. Why? Because the huge surge in the number of “dead” and “permanently shifted” voters is almost double the number of the electors’ forms digitalised in those very hours! Between July 23 and July 25, the number of digitised electors increased from 7.17 crore to 7.23 crore. Concurrently, the total count of deceased and permanently shifted voters rose from 48 lakh to 57 lakh, an increase of approximately 9 lakh!
• Disappearance of “multiple registration” category: Another ECI-driven miracle is that in this same period i.e., July 23 to 25, there was not even a single such elector who exists in the “registered at more than one place” category! Observation: The ECI appeared to be in a hurry over the last days of the SIR exercise to complete the first phase of pre-determined and desired number of deletions.

Such anomalies, where deletions exceed even the number of forms received, suggest possible manipulation of data to meet a pre-decided quota of deletions.

3. Opacity and aggregation of deletion data: On July 23, the ECI replaced category-wise reporting with “Merged Data”, collapsing separate categories (e.g., deceased, shifted, untraceable) into one opaque classification: “Electors not found at their addresses.” This intentional data obfuscation came just as deletion figures accelerated, reaching 65 lakh by July 27.
4. Disproportionate impact in key districts: Deletion rates vary wildly across districts, with Gopalganj (15.10%), Purnia (12.08%), Kishanganj (11.82%), and Madhubani (10.44%) among the worst affected—well above the state average of 8.31%. These districts are known for marginalised populations, migrant workers, and minority communities, raising fears of targeted disenfranchisement.
5. Democratic and legal concerns:
   • The Supreme Court, in its July 29 hearing, refused to stay the publication of the draft rolls but cautioned that it would intervene if “mass exclusion” was proven.
   • Petitioners, including ADR, have pointed out that the ECI has failed to publish names of those marked for deletion, denying voters the opportunity to file claims or objections.
   • The burden of proof has effectively been shifted onto voters to defend their inclusion, a reversal of the ECI’s constitutional obligation to ensure due process.

Broader implications for electoral democracy
The ECI claims that no deletion occurs without a prior notice and hearing. However, with 65 lakh deletions across 243 constituencies, this would mean conducting an average of 26,748 hearings per constituency within a month—a logistical impossibility that casts serious doubt on procedural compliance.

Further, many of the categories used for deletions, such as “untraceable” or “permanently shifted”, are highly vulnerable to subjective assessment, especially given the scale and speed of the deletions. The introduction of new deletion categories mid-way, rapid statistical jumps, and the disappearance of disaggregated data suggest a process driven by pre-determined numerical targets, not genuine verification.

Call for transparency and legal scrutiny
Vote for Democracy (VFD) and allied experts and researchers are calling for the ECI to immediately release:

• The complete list of deleted voters with reasons for deletion.
• Documentary proof backing each deletion, as required by law.
• A clear breakdown of deletion categories per constituency.

With Supreme Court hearings set for August 12 and 13, the credibility of Bihar’s electoral process now hinges on whether these deletions withstand judicial scrutiny and public transparency. Anything less risks undermining the very foundation of the right to vote in India.

The experts involved with the VFD are Dr Pyara Lal Garg, Former Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, MG Devasahayam, IAS (Retd), Convenor, Forum for Electoral Integrity & Coordinator, Citizens Commission on Elections,  Madhav Deshpande, Computer Science Expert over four decades and a former consultant to the Obama administration. Teesta Setalvad & Dolphy D’Souza are Co-Convenors of Vote for Democracy[1]

The Power Point presentation may also be viewed here:

[1] Vote for Democracy (VFD) is a Maharashtra-level citizens’ platform of individuals and organisations formed in 2023 to ensure Voter registration, Voter Awareness, and a Hate-Free Poll where Accountability & Transparency is key. Teesta Setalvad and Dolphy D’Souza are Co-Convenors and for this report a slew of legal researchers and activists contributed to the final product, this Report.

Related:

Bihar SIR: 65 Lakh electors flagged for deletion, SC said “if there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in”

ECI to SC: Voter ID insufficient for Bihar roll, defends citizenship verification power

Punjab University’s former dean writes to CJI: Bihar SIR threatens democracy, alleges ECI overreach & voter disenfranchisement

Non-Electors Within Electors: ECI reports over 61 lakh potential exclusions

The post Vote for Democracy: Statistical, legal and procedural irregularities dot Bihar’s controversial SIR process appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Allegations of irregularities and opaque process

The case was brought to the Court’s attention through an application filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). According to Live Law, ADR’s counsel, Prashant Bhushan, contended that the ECI had not disclosed the identities of the 65 lakh voters whose names were removed. He further alleged that the ECI failed to specify whether these voters were deceased or had migrated, a crucial detail for ensuring the integrity of the electoral roll.

Bhushan also raised concerns about the process itself, stating that political parties were not given the lists at the block level, a step he claimed was essential for transparency. He also highlighted a lack of clarity on whether the inclusions and omissions in the list were based on the recommendations of the Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

Appearing before a bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and NK Singh, advocate Prashant Bhushan stated that “We have filed an IA…the draft roll they have published says 65 lakh voters’ names have been omitted…they have not given list of those names…they have said people are dead, have migrated…they should disclose who are the 65 lakhs, who are dead, who have migrated…secondly, the BLOs when forwarding the forms have said this person is/is not recommended by BLO…they have not published for rest of the people that means out of 8 crores minus 65 lakhs, whether BLOs have recommended or not recommended…this information will be very important. IA may be listed tomorrow or day after” as reported by Live Law.

Bhushan also claimed that a significant number of voters were included in the list even though they were not recommended by the BLOs. He argued that these voters had failed to submit the required 11 documents, and in many cases, BLOs themselves had filled out the forms without any supporting documentation.

“Even those who have been included, BLOs have not recommended. Vast majority, more than 75%, have not submitted these 11 documents. BLOs have themselves filled up the forms and there are no documents in any of them. Among those, they are now saying BLOs have not recommended. About 12% in 2 constituencies have not been recommended,” Bhushan said, as reported by Live Law.

ECI’s defence and the Court’s directive

In response, the counsel for the ECI refuted Bhushan’s claims, stating that the submissions were “incorrect.” He asserted that the draft list was indeed shared with representatives of political parties before its publication. When asked by the bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and NK Singh, why the ECI couldn’t put this information in a formal reply, the counsel was directed to do so.

“Why can’t you say all this in a reply? If you have supplied, please give a list of political parties to whom you have supplied, so that Mr Bhushan’s client can collect information from those authorized representatives. File your reply by Saturday,” Justice Kant said

Justice Kant also pointed out that since this was only a preliminary list, the reasons for the deletions would be provided later, along with the final list. He also emphasised the importance of ensuring that every affected voter’s information is duly considered. The Court has scheduled the next hearing on the petitions challenging the Bihar SIR for August 12.

Background of the Bihar SIR process and SC hearings

The SIR in Bihar is an exercise undertaken by the ECI for updation in electoral rolls. On June 24, the ECI announced the SIR for Bihar ahead of the state’s assembly elections. This process required voters, particularly those whose names weren’t on the 2003 electoral roll, to re-verify their details by submitting new enumeration forms with supporting documents. The ECI cited the need to remove duplicate entries, deceased voters, and migrated individuals from the rolls.

The legality and methodology of this exercise were swiftly challenged in the Supreme Court by ADR and other petitioners, including political parties and social activists. The petitioners argued that the SIR could disenfranchise a large number of genuine voters, especially from marginalised communities, due to the stringent documentary requirements and a tight deadline. They also questioned the ECI’s authority to conduct such a revision so close to an election.

The Supreme Court has been hearing the matter since July 10. During the initial hearings, the Court refused to halt the SIR but urged the ECI to “consider” accepting additional documents like Aadhaar, Voter ID, and Ration Cards for voter verification, which were initially excluded from the ECI’s list of 11 acceptable documents. The Court also expressed its concern about the potential for “mass exclusion” of voters and warned that it would intervene if any irregularities were found. 

The ECI, in turn, defended its actions by stating it had the constitutional authority to carry out the SIR and that the process was being conducted transparently in collaboration with political parties’ Booth Level Agents (BLAs). The current hearing on August 6 is a follow-up to these earlier proceedings, triggered by the publication of the draft electoral roll with the significant deletion of 65 lakh names.

Related

Bihar SIR: 65 Lakh electors flagged for deletion, SC said “if there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in”

ECI to SC: Voter ID insufficient for Bihar roll, defends citizenship verification power

Punjab University’s former dean writes to CJI: Bihar SIR threatens democracy, alleges ECI overreach & voter disenfranchisement

The post SC to ECI: Explain alleged irregularities in deletion of 65 lakh voters from Bihar’s draft electoral rolls appeared first on SabrangIndia.

An extract of the full text of the open statement may be read here:

“          We are writing today to express our alarm at what appears to be an assault on the very foundations of our democracy – the system of universal adult suffrage, i.e the citizen’s right to vote. The assault is an insidious one where the purported attempt to clean up and sanitise the electoral rolls is likely to end up disenfranchising a very large segment of the voting population, particularly the poor and the marginalised, who possess little or no official documentation as proof of their citizenship.

“          For all the 73 years since the first General Elections were held, the vast majority of the poor in India have held their Right to Vote as their most fundamental stake in Indian democracy. Throughout, the principle followed has been that, unless anyone disputes their status, they are presumed to be citizens and. therefore, attempts should be made to ensure that everyone is included as a voter. In fact, in complete contrast to the manner in which the ‘new’ Election Commission of India (ECI) is functioning, the attempt in the past was to see that no adult Indian was left out of the enfranchisement process and the ECI took it as its solemn responsibility to include people residing in the remotest corners of the country as voters, however marginal their lives might be. The focus was on inclusion and not exclusion on account of alleged ineligibility.

“          So far, a liberal and flexible approach to documentary corroboration of citizenship was followed in the preparation of electoral rolls knowing full well that most Indians lack adequate documents and certificates to establish their citizenship status. It was also recognised that the poor are especially deprived in their access to official documentation resources and therefore need proactive measures to ensure their inclusion. This process has now been reversed to ensure that those with poor access to documents will be deprived of their rights as voters.

“          The ECI has exempted electors included in the 2003 electoral roll from furnishing any document under SIR 2025 other than “the relevant extracts of the said part showing their name in the 2003 electoral roll”. ECI’s affidavit states that the children of electors included in the 2003 rolls have also been allowed to use this avenue to prove their eligibility. Such privileging of the inclusions in the 2003 electoral rolls, over and above all electoral rolls published by the ECI in the two subsequent decades, is untenable, unjust and discriminatory.

“          The SIR is claimed to be an exercise in pursuit of the responsibility entrusted to the ECI under the Constitution, yet what it is effectively doing is to invert precept and practice to:

• pass the burden for proving citizenship to the voter instead of the authorities having to prove why they have excluded someone on the basis of fake citizenship;
• arrogate to itself (the ECI) the authority (instead of the Home Ministry) to effectively confer or take away citizenship rights without any Constitutional mandate to do so;
• introduce the contested idea of the NRC through the backdoor, as it were, in the guise of cleaning up electoral rolls;
• effectively negate and nullify the electoral rolls currently in use (as recently as in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections) on the pretext that they are likely to be contaminated and, thereby , justify the creation of a completely new set of rolls;
• disenfranchise millions of those who have been registered voters in all elections held since 2003 but may not have documents that they are now required to possess;
• prescribe a list of documents through an arbitrary and whimsical executive fiat making it virtually impossible for most people to obtain them in time;
• use the pretext of cleaning and purifying voter lists to eliminate and delete millions of existing voters who cannot satisfy arbitrary bureaucratic requirements, g. married women having to produce birth certificates etc. of their parents;
• give extraordinary discretionary powers to officialdom at various levels to indulge in rent seeking to remove or add voters;
• muddy waters sufficiently to make the entire process mystifying, difficult and

“          As if it was not enough to commission an SIR which was capable of subverting the electoral process in the garb of reforming it, the breakneck speed with which it has been implemented, the impossible timelines given to the Booth Level Officers, the grossly inadequate infrastructure provided/made available to digitise the data has made a mockery of the very elaborate procedures the ECI has laid down.

“          In several reports in the print and electronic media, notably the YouTube videos of Ajit Anjum, a reputed journalist, it is abundantly clear that fraud and forgery on a massive scale has occurred. There is video evidence to show that voter forms have been filled up not by the voters but en masse by BLOs sitting in officially provided space, and signatures of thousands of those voters forged in an organised manner. Forms and signatures of family members of several voters (including forms of dead members of their families) have been filled, signed and uploaded on the ECI website without their knowledge and consent. When reports appeared that no one was being given the voter’s copy of the enrolment form nor any acknowledgement receipts provided, pictures were hastily taken to show village women lining up and holding their copy of forms as proof of acknowledgement. When the same women were visited again by the investigating reporter – Ajit Anjum – they confessed that the officials gave them the forms, took the photo of them holding them up, published them and then took back those forms.

“          In a Jansunwai (public hearing) held in Patna on June 21, 2025 with eminent persons like Wajahat Habibullah (former Chief Information Commissioner of India) and Justice Anjana Prakash (retired judge of the Patna High Court) among others as the Presidees, 25 persons, including several illiterate women, from 14 villages described their experiences of what actually happened during the SIR process, and their detailed testimonies showed the extent of the fraud that is being perpetrated in the name of the SIR. This is a shocking revelation of the way the Election Commission is using its powers, forcing the district machinery to resort to unethical practices in an organised manner in the very first phase of this elaborate charade. The evidence of such fraud in the very first stage of the SIR exercise vitiates the entire SIR process and undermines those very constitutional processes that the ECI claims to be following. It is especially reprehensible that this fraud is being committed under the direct supervision of the ECI, bringing this institution of eminence with a glorious past into grave disrepute. The continuation of this futile exercise and its proposed extension to the rest of the country. Especially when all that is required is routine updation of existing data in the regular course of the ECI’s scheduled activities, poses one of the biggest threats Indian democracy has faced, from the very institution that is meant to uphold the system of universal suffrage.

“          As our various petitions and pleas to the ECI in several matters relating to elections have been ignored and casually dismissed in the past, we are addressing this open letter to ‘We the people’ so that public opinion is mobilised and there is pressure on the ECI to take corrective action. We also hope that the Supreme Court, which is examining the matter, takes heed of the issues raised by us, particularly as most of us, as members of the CCG, have had long experience of conducting and supervising elections, including the preparation of Electoral Rolls, and are familiar with the complexities of doing so in a vast democracy like ours.”

The Constitutional Conduct Group states that, as a group, they have ‘no affiliation with any political party but believe in impartiality, neutrality and commitment to the Constitution of India.’

Ninety three signatories to the current open statement are listed below: 

Related:

Bihar SIR: 65 Lakh electors flagged for deletion, SC said “if there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in”

ECI to SC: Voter ID insufficient for Bihar roll, defends citizenship verification power

Punjab University’s former dean writes to CJI: Bihar SIR threatens democracy, alleges ECI overreach & voter disenfranchisement

Non-Electors Within Electors: ECI reports over 61 lakh potential exclusions

The post Bihar’s SIR process reveals an exercise of illegitimate powers, ECI forcing district machinery to resort to unethical practices: CCG’s Open Letter appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On July 24, the distinguished election expert and former Dean from Panjab University, the 77-year-old Dr. Garg has written directly to the Chief Justice of India, not as a legal professional, but as a concerned citizen grappling with profound anguish over the future of Indian democracy. 

His carefully crafted letter lays bare his concerns, arguing that for him, this isn’t merely about administrative protocols. Instead, it represents a critical fight to safeguard the fundamental right to vote, a right he believes is being systematically eroded, particularly for the poor and marginalised. 

His application, a potent indictment of the ECI’s actions, reveals a series of glaring inconsistencies and alleged breaches of electoral laws, all in an effort to avert what he perceives as the potential disenfranchisement of millions and a severe blow to the nation’s democratic ideals.

The contradiction at the heart of the matter: ECI’s shifting stance

Dr. Garg’s letter began by exposing a troubling inconsistency in the ECI’s directives. He pointed out that on May 1, 2025, the ECI had issued instructions acknowledging its responsibility, under Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to electronically obtain and verify death registration data from the Registrar General of India. This indicated a clear understanding that the onus of verification lay with the Commission itself. However, less than two months later, on June 24, 2025, the ECI issued a subsequent order for the “Special Intensive Revision” in Bihar. 

This new directive, Dr. Garg argued, completely contradicted their earlier stand. Instead of the ECI verifying data, the burden of proving eligibility, even for already registered voters, was now inexplicably shifted onto the electors themselves. This sudden and significant change, he contended, was not only arbitrary but also a clear violation of the ECI’s own admitted duties and established legal procedures.

Alleged violations of core electoral Laws: unlawful demands and procedures

Dr. Garg’s letter meticulously detailed how the ECI’s “Special Intensive Revision” appeared to violate fundamental provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RPA, 1950), and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. He specifically highlighted that the core of the ECI’s alleged overreach, according to Dr. Garg, lay in its arbitrary creation and use of an “Enumeration Form,” a proforma entirely different from the legally prescribed Form 4 under Rule 8 of the 1960 Rules. 

This new form not only varied in format but also in content, introducing an unauthorised demand for 11 specific documents to prove identity and citizenship. 

Dr. Garg argued that this was a direct contravention of Section 23(4), (5), and (6) of the RPA, 1950, which stipulates that while Aadhaar may be sought for identity, it cannot be a mandatory requirement for inclusion or deletion of names, and alternative documents should be allowed. The ECI’s unilateral demand for such an extensive list of documents, without any legal amendment, rendered the entire exercise invalid.

Disregard for established legal framework

Dr. Garg mentioned that the ECI is mandated to carry out electoral roll preparation and revision in a “prescribed manner” and “in accordance with the provisions of Rules made” under the RPA, 1950, as stated in Section 21. He stressed that Section 19 clearly lays down the conditions for registration – being 18 years of age and ordinarily resident in a constituency. 

Furthermore, he cited Section 20(1A), which clarifies that temporary absence from residence doesn’t cease one’s ordinary residency. The ECI’s current revision, by demanding extensive documentation and shifting verification burden, appeared to flout these foundational principles.

The citizenship conundrum: a question of authority

Perhaps one of the most contentious points raised was the ECI’s perceived attempt to delve into matters of citizenship, an authority, Dr. Garg argued, that lies beyond its purview. The ECI’s instruction requiring proof of birth and parental origin based on specific dates (before July 1, 1987; between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004; and after December 2, 2004) aligned suspiciously with the Citizenship Act, 1955, as amended. 

This, Dr. Garg contended, implied that the ECI was attempting to implement aspects of the CAA-NRC, a function that rightfully belongs to Parliament and other competent authorities, not the Election Commission. He posed the critical question: 

“Has the Election Commission been appointed to define and judge the citizenship rights?”

Invalidating past elections and creating constitutional crisis

Dr. Garg forcefully argued that by referring to January 1, 2003, as a qualifying date for the current revision – essentially reviewing electoral rolls from 23 years prior – the ECI was acting outside its constitutional mandate. Articles 324, 326, and 328 of the Constitution authorise revisions based on the immediate previous list, not decades-old records. If the ECI’s actions were upheld, he argued, it would implicitly question the validity of all central and state legislatures, presidential, and vice-presidential appointments, and all laws and decisions made since 2003. This, he warned, would plunge the nation into an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

Ground realities: the unseen victims of bureaucracy

Beyond the legal intricacies, Dr. Garg passionately highlighted the real “ground realities” that would inevitably victimise millions of genuine voters.

The demand for birth certificates, especially for those born before 1987, was deemed “impracticable and totally unlawful.” He noted that the Registration of Births and Deaths Act only came into existence in 1969, meaning records for earlier births would simply not exist for a vast majority. 

He presented data showing abysmally low birth registration rates in Bihar (6.3% in 2005-06) and a national average of only 41.4%, with birth certificates found in just 27.1% of cases. 

“How could individuals born decades ago produce documents that never existed or were rarely issued?”

The Digital Divide and Illiteracy Barrier

Dr. Garg emphasised India’s significant literacy gap, especially in states like Bihar, where female literacy was as low as 22.89% in 2001. Demanding matriculation certificates or passports from a population where only 10.55% were matriculates or above in 2001, and only 6.5% possessed a valid passport as of 2023, was a recipe for widespread exclusion. Many remote and impoverished citizens lack access to digital records or the means to obtain such documents.

The threat of doubtful voters and loss of rights

The direst consequence, as articulated by Dr. Garg, was the potential for millions to lose their citizenship and become stateless based on arbitrary deletions from the electoral rolls. Such an outcome would strip them of ration and other essential benefits, and even fundamental rights. He warned of “demographic changes for political aims” and the alarming possibility of “around 25,000 votes per constituency… stolen” through dubious deletions.

ECI’s procedural failures and discrepancies

Dr. Garg’s letter also pointed to glaring operational failures and inconsistencies within the ECI’s execution of the revision. He highlighted:

• Failure to adhere to forms and rules: The ECI had allegedly bypassed legally prescribed forms (Forms 6, 7, 8, etc.) and rules (Rules 13, 15, 16, 19, 26 of the 1960 Rules) for inclusion, objection, and correction of names.
• Printing and distribution shortfalls: The ECI’s own press releases indicated a massive shortfall in printing voter forms – only 79 million out of a required 158 million by July 10, 2025. Furthermore, there was a reported lack of double-form distribution and receipts for electors, both mandatory.
• Dubious data and forged signatures: Dr. Garg alleged instances of forged signatures, forms uploaded without field visits, and a “double-edged sword” warning system that pushed electors to submit documents even if their forms were uploaded without them.
• Mathematical inconsistencies: He even cited discrepancies in the ECI’s own reported figures, where totals in press releases didn’t add up, indicating a “glaring picture of casualness even at the top.”
• Unverified deletions: The ECI claimed that over 4.1 million electors were “not found at their place” and 3.4 million were “deceased or permanently shifted” without conclusive verification. Dr. Garg argued these were “doubtful removals” designed for “horse trading.”

Dr. Pyara Lal Garg concluded his powerful application with a heartfelt prayer to the Supreme Court. He sought answers to critical questions of law that pierced to the very heart of India’s democratic framework:

• Is this revision a flagrant breach of election law?

• Is it a nefarious design to undermine universal franchise?

• Does it violate fundamental provisions of the RPA, 1950, particularly against the poor and marginalised?

• Does the ECI possess the authority to implement the CAA-NRC or define citizenship rights?

• Will this revision retroactively invalidate past elections and legislative bodies?

• Is the ECI, by abandoning the principle of inclusion, trampling the concept of universal adult suffrage, a cornerstone debated and enshrined by the Constituent Assembly?

Related

Non-Electors Within Electors: ECI reports over 61 lakh potential exclusions

Bihar’s untraceable electors spiral by 809% in just one day, ECI reports 1 lakh ‘missing’, 15 lakh Bihar voters yet to submit forms

SC: ECI’s ‘wisdom’ on revision of electoral rolls challenged, does a disenfranchisement crisis loom over Bihar, with thousands being declared ‘‘D’ (doubtful) voters?

The post Punjab University’s former dean writes to CJI: Bihar SIR threatens democracy, alleges ECI overreach & voter disenfranchisement appeared first on SabrangIndia.

However, the ECI’s figures also highlight a large number of electors identified for potential exclusion. These includes, 21.6 lakh deceased electors, 31.5 lakh electors who have permanently migrated, 7 lakh electors found to be registered at more than one location, 1 lakh electors categorised as “untraceable.” Fewer than 7 lakh electors whose forms have not yet been received despite door-to-door visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

Combined, these figures suggest that over 61 lakh voters could potentially be excluded from the draft electoral roll. The ECI maintains that the primary aim of the Bihar SIR is to ensure no eligible voter is left out while ineligible names are removed, asserting its constitutional mandate to protect the integrity of electoral rolls. 

To this end, booth-level lists of those who haven’t filled forms, deceased, and permanently migrated electors were shared with all political parties on July 20, 2025, for error verification. Furthermore, electors and political parties have until September 1, 2025, to file claims for missing names or raise objections to incorrect inclusions.

This latest data from the ECI comes amidst intense political backlash and growing concerns. Just yesterday, July 24, reports highlighted a shocking 809% surge in “untraceable” electors in Bihar, jumping from 11,484 on July 22 to 1 lakh by July 23. Overall deletions had also dramatically increased by 3 lakhs in just 24 hours, reaching 56 lakhs by July 23. Opposition parties, led by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, have threatened to boycott the upcoming state polls, alleging that the SIR is a “sinister plot” by the Modi government to disenfranchise marginalised communities and manipulate electoral outcomes.

ECI’s press note dated 24.07.2025 can be read here:

INDIA Bloc protests, Kharge dramatically tears symbolic SIR document and placed in dustbin

The political climate in Parliament became strained as the INDIA bloc maintained its protests for a third consecutive day at outside the parliament. The bloc expressed strong disapproval of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar. Members of Parliament from the opposition parties conducted a demonstration outside Parliament, conveying their opposition to what they characterise as an attempt to alter voter lists. Their protest commenced with a march from Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar. The opposition has voiced concerns that this process in Bihar could precede a broader effort concerning voter registration nationwide.

The INDIA bloc MPs staged a protest outside Parliament premises, expressing strong objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being undertaken by the Election Commission of India in Bihar.

New Delhi pic.twitter.com/YPtOsRql1x

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 25, 2025

During the INDIA bloc’s protest, Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, tore up a symbolic SIR document and placed it in a dustbin. This action, which was widely observed, represented the opposition’s rejection of the ECI’s plans for voter list revisions.

Kharge openly challenged the ECI’s proposed nationwide SIR, referencing its notification dated June 24. He criticised the government, stating, “The Modi government’s aim is to hinder the voting participation of the poor, Dalits, tribals, backward classes, minorities, and the disadvantaged, in order to modify the Constitution of India in accordance with the Manusmriti.”

| LoP in Rajya Sabha, #MallikarjunKharge, symbolically tears up the #SIR and throws it into a dustbin during the INDIA bloc’s protest on the Parliament premises.#Parliament #MonsoonSession2025 #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/rydRLJ7FGB

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) July 25, 2025

He further elaborated, “The RSS-BJP has always wanted to deprive the weaker sections of society of their voting rights, and now, through the use of SIR, it is determined to fulfil its long-standing intention.” 

The Congress President expressed profound disappointment, stating, “It is deeply unfortunate that a constitutional institution like the Election Commission is supporting the BJP-RSS in this conspiracy of ‘vote suppression.” He brought to light alleged ground realities, claiming, “The entire country has seen how, in Bihar, the Election Commission’s BLOs are making their own people fill out forms to strip the deprived sections of society of their voting rights.” 

Kharge warned of a broader implication, asserting, “Now, the Election Commission will carry out this same task across the entire country. The BJP has an aversion to the Constitution of India and democracy. Every day, it devises new ways to attack the Constitution created by Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar and Pandit Nehru.” 

चुनाव आयोग ने आज आधिकारिक एलान किया है कि वह Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Exercise पूरे देश में लागू करेगा।

मोदी सरकार ग़रीबों, दलितों, आदिवासियों, पिछड़े वर्ग, अल्पसंख्यकों और वंचितों के वोट काटना चाहती है, ताकि वो भारत के संविधान को मनुस्मृति के मुताबिक बदलाव कर सके।… pic.twitter.com/wGjYXIADGL

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 25, 2025

Amidst the storm of protests and accusations, the Election Commission of India’s June 24 order on the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls stands as a crucial point of contention. In its order, the ECI explicitly stated, “Commission has now decided to begin the Special Intensive Revision in the entire country for the discharge of its constitutional mandate to protect the integrity of electoral rolls…The schedule for SIR in the rest of the country will be issued in due course.” 

“100% solid proof of vote theft!” – Rahul Gandhi

The Congress MP and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, entering the fray with an explosive claim. Gandhi directly challenged the ECI, stating, “The Election Commission should not remain under any illusion! We have 100% solid proof of your tactics to steal votes.” 

चुनाव आयोग गलतफहमी में न रहे!

वोट चोरी करने के आपके हथकंडों के 100% पुख्ता सबूत हैं हमारे पास।

हम उन्हें सामने भी लाएंगे और आप इसके अंजाम से बच नहीं पाएंगे – लोकतंत्र और संविधान को बर्बाद करने की कोशिश करने वाले बक्शे नहीं जाएंगे। pic.twitter.com/gYAVbDo20O

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 24, 2025

He issued a stern warning, asserting, “We will bring them to light, and you will not escape the consequences – those who try to destroy democracy and the constitution will not be spared.” 

“Misleading and Baseless!” – commission rejects Gandhi’s allegations

In a swift and unequivocal response, the Election Commission of India, through its official X handle, categorically rejected Rahul Gandhi’s severe allegations. The ECI’s official statement declared, “the claim made in this social media post is misleading and baseless.” 

#ECIFactCheck

इस सोशल मीडिया पोस्ट में किया गया दावा भ्रामक और निराधार है

विस्तार में जानने के लिए, नीचे दिए गए इस मुख्य निर्वाचन अधिकारी, कर्नाटक के लिंक को देखिए।https://t.co/TBcX8aUwji

चित्र में विवरण पढ़ें https://t.co/fdiDWMDttL pic.twitter.com/HZ73NxwlJc

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) July 24, 2025

Moreover, as the deadline for form submission will close tomorrow, the focus now shifts to the publication of the draft electoral roll-on August 1 and the subsequent claims and objections period. The significant numbers of potential deletions and the deep-seated concerns of the opposition ensure that the Bihar SIR will remain a heated topic as the state heads towards its assembly elections.

Related

ECI to SC: Voter ID insufficient for Bihar roll, defends citizenship verification power

Bihar:  SC signals that ECI should consider Aadhaar, EPIC (Voter ID card) & Ration card for electoral roll revision 

SC: ECI’s ‘wisdom’ on revision of electoral rolls challenged, does a disenfranchisement crisis loom over Bihar, with thousands being declared ‘‘D’ (doubtful) voters?

The post Non-Electors Within Electors: ECI reports over 61 lakh potential exclusions appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This inexplicable overnight explosion in a critical voter category, coupled with the overall increase in electors’ data marked for deletion from 35 lakh to 56 lakh in the same period (July 14 to July 23, 2025), unless the contrary proved.

A skyrocketing surge in just 24 hours

The initial phase of the SIR, as reported by the ECI on July 14, indicated that out of Bihar’s total 7,89,69,844 electors, enumeration forms from 6,60,67,208 individuals, or 83.66%, had been successfully collected. At that juncture, the ECI had identified specific categories for deletion, 1.59% of electors were found to be deceased, 2.2% had permanently shifted residence, and 0.73% were identified as having multiple entries. This initial accounting suggested that approximately 88.18% of the electorate was either verified or categorised for deletion based on these criteria.

The figures emerging from the SIR are indeed startling, particularly the overnight jump in “untraceable electors.”

However, subsequent data releases unveiled a concerning volatility. On July 22, the ECI reported 11,484 “untraceable electors.” In an astonishing and unexplained leap, this figure surged to a staggering 100,000 by July 23 – an astronomical increase of approximately 809% within a mere 24 hours. This sudden surge in a highly problematic category of voters has become a central point of contention, raising serious questions about the methodologies and consistency of data collection and classification during the SIR.

Furthermore, the overall number of electors marked for deletion also witnessed a significant escalation. On July 22, with voter coverage reportedly at 97.30%, the count of electors flagged for deletion stood at 52 lakh (5.2 million). Yet, by July 23, with coverage marginally increasing to 98.01%, this figure jumped to 56 lakh (5.6 million). This implies that an additional 3 lakh (300,000) voters were identified for deletion in just a single day.

The sheer magnitude and rapid rate of these proposed deletions, particularly in the final stages of the revision, are fuelling a suspicion that the SIR may extend beyond a routine clean-up, potentially impacting the democratic rights of a significant portion of Bihar’s electorate.

The ECI’s justification and the underlying concerns

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently undertaking a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, its first in 22 years, which it defends as crucial for maintaining the “purity of elections.” This exercise aims to remove deceased voters, permanent migrants, and duplicate entries, with ECI data as of July 23 showing 56 lakh electors identified for deletion.

Questions of timing and documentary requirements

However, this SIR has ignited a firestorm of criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who allege it’s a politically motivated attempt to disenfranchise marginalised communities. Their concerns are multi-layered, beginning with the highly suspect timing of the SIR just months before the Bihar assembly elections, which critics argue should have been conducted well in advance to avoid any perception of impropriety.

ALARMING DISCREPANCIES

Two glaring red flags have emerged from the Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in Bihar:

On 22nd July, the number of untraceable electors stood at 11,484. By 23rd July, that number suddenly exploded to 1 LAKH
At 88.18% voter… pic.twitter.com/3icF2UkZZt

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 24, 2025

Furthermore, the methodology and documentary requirements have drawn fire; despite the ECI’s claim that Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards are not mandatory, their limited use for identity verification raises worries for poor and migrant workers who often lack readily available official documentation. This also shifts the burden of proof onto individual citizens, a challenging process for those with limited literacy or resources, issues currently being heard by the Supreme Court.

Opposition may boycott Bihar poll, says Tejashwi Yadav

In a stunning declaration Thursday, July 24, RJD leader, Tejaswi Yadav again alleged the Election Commission is for “working at the behest of BJP and ruling NDA” and might boycott the polls after taking feedback from people and alliance partners. Dramatically, he, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has indicated that Opposition parties might boycott upcoming State Assembly elections in Bihar after taking feedback from people and our alliance partners, reports The Hindu.

“We will see what people want and what our allies say. If the state polls are conducted in a partial and manipulative manner where it is already decided who would win what number of seats, what is the use of conducting such an election? We may consider boycotting the upcoming state assembly elections in Bihar after taking feedback from people and our (alliance) partners”, Mr Yadav, who is from the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal, told a news agency on Wednesday (July 23, 2025).

Earlier in the day on July 23, there was a verbal duel between ruling NDA and Opposition mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) legislators on the third day of monsoon session of the Bihar Assembly over the issue of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in the State. Thereafter, while addressing media persons, Mr. Yadav alleged the Election Commission for “working at the behest of BJP and ruling NDA” and claimed that “the possibility of deletion of 50-80 lakh voters from the voter list is alarming”.

“If we have so many deletions from the voters list, it is clear that there would be 3,000-4,000 names of voters who would be struck off from the electoral roll on each booth of the state and this is the conspiracy of the NDA to get favourable results in the poll,” alleged Mr. Yadav.

“If they (NDA) want to win elections through fraudulent means, then what is the point in conducting elections? Chunav mat karwao (don’t hold the elections),” he quipped while speaking to the reporters.

“We’ll consult our (alliance) partners and people before taking a final decision on this (boycotting the poll),” he added.

The Indian National Congress (INC), an ally also came out in support of RJD on the issue. “Yes, we’ll seriously discuss the issue (of boycotting the poll)… we could join any form of protest. If voters are denied their franchise, what remains in a democratic set-up of the country?” asked senior state Congress leader and legislator party leader in the State Assembly, Shakeel Ahmad Khan.

The ruling party (JD-U) leader and party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, however, slammed Mr. Yadav for the “poll boycott threat”. “His (poll) boycott threat shows sheer desperation and hopelessness. Has he (Mr Yadav) forgotten that the people of the state had limited his party (RJD) to just four seats in the last Lok Sabha elections in 2024?”, said Mr. Kumar.

The Opposition mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) leaders are expected to “take a final call on poll boycott in days to come”, the other leaders of mahagathbandhan told The Hindu over a phone call.

“Possibly, after the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature, which is scheduled to be concluded tomorrow on July 25,” said one of the senior Left party leaders while seeking anonymity. The three Left Parties — the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) and the Communist Party of India-Marxists-Leninist (CPI-ML) — are part of the Opposition mahagathbandhan in the State.

The State Assembly elections in Bihar are due in October-November later this year.

Bihar’s SIR: Impractical deadlines and opaque deletions

The remarkably short deadline for form submission, July 25, 2025, is deemed impractical, especially for Bihar’s significant migrant population, with 15 lakh voters yet to submit forms, risking the exclusion of legitimate voters due to logistical hurdles or lack of awareness, despite online and WhatsApp options. Finally, deep concerns persist regarding the opacity of the deletion process itself. The sheer volume of proposed deletions and limited time for verification, even with lists shared with political party-nominated Booth Level Agents, raise serious doubts about the thoroughness and fairness of the process, fuelling fears of erroneous deletions that could disproportionately impact specific demographic groups.

ECI’s stance on voter IDs and citizenship verification in court

he ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls has been further complicated by the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) recent affidavit to the Supreme Court. Filed on July 21, 2025, the ECI, through Deputy Election Commissioner Sanjay Kumar, stated that Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs/Voter IDs) cannot be considered primary documents for new entries, categorising the SIR as a “de novo revision process.” While acknowledging Aadhaar’s utility for identification, the ECI reiterated it’s not a standalone proof of eligibility or citizenship. Furthermore, the ECI defended its right to verify citizenship, citing its constitutional mandate under Article 326 and Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to ensure only citizens are registered.

Divergence from Supreme Court’s concern and ground realities

This stance directly challenges the Supreme Court’s July 10, 2025, observation that EPICs, Aadhaar, and ration cards should be considered valid. The ECI justified excluding ration cards due to “widespread prevalence of fraudulent cards.”

This significant deletion rate, coupled with the ECI’s stringent documentary requirements and its assertion of citizenship verification powers, has fuelled concerns from opposition parties and civil society about potential widespread disenfranchisement, particularly of marginalised sections. Many reports have also reported ground-level procedural flaws. The next Supreme Court hearing on July 28, 2025, will be crucial in addressing these contentious issues.

Related

ECI to SC: Voter ID insufficient for Bihar roll, defends citizenship verification power

SC: ECI’s ‘wisdom’ on revision of electoral rolls challenged, does a disenfranchisement crisis loom over Bihar, with thousands being declared ‘‘D’ (doubtful) voters?

Bihar:  SC signals that ECI should consider Aadhaar, EPIC (Voter ID card) & Ration card for electoral roll revision 

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