Amid the ongoing debate over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, the Supreme Court on Monday warned that if any illegality is found in the methodology adopted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the entire process will be cancelled.
A Bench include Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi is hearing the matter.
The petitioners argued that the SIR process allows arbitrary removal of voters without proper safeguards, which could disenfranchise lakhs of citizens and compromise free and fair elections.
During Monday’s hearing on a plea seeking modification of its earlier order directing the Election Commission of India to include Aadhaar as valid identity proof for voter registration, a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymlaya Bagchi observed that, as a constitutional body, the poll panel is expected to adhere to the law and mandatory rules while conducting the SIR exercise
However, the Bench made it clear that it would step in and could nullify the entire process if any illegality was detected. “What difference will the final publication of the list make to us if we are satisfied there is some illegality?” Justice Kant said, NDTV reported.
