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The Supreme Court of India on Monday clarified that voters in Bihar can continue to submit applications for inclusion, deletion, and correction of entries in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls even after the formal deadline of September 1, 2025 , though it refused to extend the deadline statutorily. Background: Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar The Election Commission of India (ECI) has undertaken a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the first such major update in nearly two decades. The draft rolls published in August 2025 excluded approximately 6.5 million names , sparking political controversy and a wave of legal petitions. The revision is significant ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections , with opposition parties, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) , alleging mass voter disenfranchisement. Supreme Court’s Directions A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi recorded the ECI’s assurance that appli...

SC Endorses ECI’s Position on Aadhaar Card In an important development ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Supreme Court began hearing multiple petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the ECI was correct in stating that an Aadhaar card is not conclusive proof of citizenship . The court noted that verifying the citizenship status of voters falls squarely within the ECI’s constitutional mandate. Controversy Over 65 Lakh Voters’ Exclusion Senior advocate Kapil Sibal , representing RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, argued that the exclusion of around 65 lakh voters from the draft electoral roll published on August 1 was illegal , as no objections were raised against their inclusion prior to their removal. The bench countered that, under electoral rules, excluded individuals must apply for inclusion ...