Mahua Moitra moves Supreme Court against EC's revision of electoral rolls in Bihar
Mahua Moitra moves Supreme Court against EC's revision of electoral rolls in Bihar
M.U.H
07/07/202527
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) June 24 directive for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. In her petition, Moitra has alleged that the move violates multiple constitutional provisions and could result in large-scale disenfranchisement of legitimate voters.
Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, Moitra’s plea seeks the setting aside of the ECI order, arguing that the ongoing SIR exercise breaches Articles 14 (right to equality), 19(1)(a) (freedom of expression), 21 (right to life and liberty), 325 and 328 (election-related rights). She further claims the directive is inconsistent with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
“This is the first time in India that electors whose names already exist in the electoral rolls — and who have voted in multiple elections — are being asked to re-prove their eligibility,” the petition stated, calling it a move that undermines free and fair elections.
Moitra highlighted that the order introduces requirements, such as producing parental citizenship documents, that are “ultra vires” Article 326 of the Constitution. She also sought a direction to the ECI to refrain from issuing similar directives in other states.
A similar petition has also been filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan. ADR argues that the directive lacks due process and sets an unreasonably short timeline for revision, creating a high risk of excluding lakhs of genuine voters from the rolls.
The ECI, in its June 24 communication, had justified the SIR in Bihar, citing rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, newly eligible youth voters, non-reporting of deaths, and the suspected inclusion of foreign nationals. The last such revision in the state was held in 2003.
The commission has assured that the SIR will strictly follow constitutional provisions, including Article 326 and Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The revision is being carried out by booth-level officers through door-to-door verification.
Several civil society organisations, including the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and activists like Yogendra Yadav, have also challenged the EC’s directive, flagging fears of arbitrary voter exclusion ahead of the upcoming state elections in Bihar.
