NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked petitioners to refrain from terming the Special Intensive Revision ( SIR ) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission in poll-bound Bihar as "artificial" or "imaginary." However, the top court questioned the timing of the exercise.
A partial working day (PWD) bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi said that "there is logic" behind the exercise carried out by the poll body.
Also read: 'Should have acted early if ...': What SC said on Bihar voter revision row
However, the apex court raised concerns over the exclusion of Aadhaar in the 11 listed documents required to proof citizenship in the state. It questioned EC focus citizenship, noting that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the home ministry.
"Why are you getting into the citizenship issue in the special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar? It is the domain of the MHA," the bench asked the poll body.
"If you are to check citizenship under the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, then you should have acted early; it is a bit late," it added.
Election Commission told the Supreme Court that citizenship is required to be verified to qualify as a voter in India under Article 326 of the Constitution.
The bench further questioned why the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar was undertaken so close to the upcoming assembly elections at the end of the year.
The court observed that there is nothing wrong with the SIR exercise itself but emphasized that it should have been conducted independently of the ensuing election.
The announcement of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission has stirred a fresh political bickering match in the state, which is scheduled to go into a high-stakes assembly election at the end of the year.
The poll body has taken up the task of weeding out illegal foreign migrants from the voting lists of six states — starting with Bihar.
According to the poll body, it is part of a crackdown on illegal immigrants from countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
"The Constitution of India is supreme. All citizens, political parties, and the Election Commission of India follow the Constitution," the EC said in a statement.
The EC said the special revision has already started successfully in Bihar for verifying the eligibility of each elector with the "full participation" of all political parties.
The poll panel said it already has nearly 78,000 Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) and is appointing over 20,000 more for new polling stations.
A partial working day (PWD) bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi said that "there is logic" behind the exercise carried out by the poll body.
Also read: 'Should have acted early if ...': What SC said on Bihar voter revision row
However, the apex court raised concerns over the exclusion of Aadhaar in the 11 listed documents required to proof citizenship in the state. It questioned EC focus citizenship, noting that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the home ministry.
"Why are you getting into the citizenship issue in the special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar? It is the domain of the MHA," the bench asked the poll body.
"If you are to check citizenship under the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, then you should have acted early; it is a bit late," it added.
Election Commission told the Supreme Court that citizenship is required to be verified to qualify as a voter in India under Article 326 of the Constitution.
The bench further questioned why the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar was undertaken so close to the upcoming assembly elections at the end of the year.
The court observed that there is nothing wrong with the SIR exercise itself but emphasized that it should have been conducted independently of the ensuing election.
The announcement of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission has stirred a fresh political bickering match in the state, which is scheduled to go into a high-stakes assembly election at the end of the year.
The poll body has taken up the task of weeding out illegal foreign migrants from the voting lists of six states — starting with Bihar.
According to the poll body, it is part of a crackdown on illegal immigrants from countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
"The Constitution of India is supreme. All citizens, political parties, and the Election Commission of India follow the Constitution," the EC said in a statement.
The EC said the special revision has already started successfully in Bihar for verifying the eligibility of each elector with the "full participation" of all political parties.
The poll panel said it already has nearly 78,000 Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) and is appointing over 20,000 more for new polling stations.
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