In a key step to ensure electoral transparency, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to reveal details of 65 lakh voters removed from Bihar’s rolls. The deletions followed a special intensive revision before the upcoming elections.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymala Bagchi stressed the need for openness. They directed the ECI to publish names and reasons for deletion on its official website by Tuesday. The deleted voter list must be in soft copy and searchable by Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers.
The court also ordered printed, booth-wise lists of deleted voters with reasons to be placed at panchayat and block development offices. A district-wise summary must be displayed at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
“Transparency is needed about 65 lakh deleted voters so people can seek clarification or correction,” the bench said.
To ease identity verification, the court asked the ECI to accept Aadhaar cards as valid proof of identity.
The ruling comes amid rising concerns over voter roll accuracy in Bihar. The state is set for elections later this year. The court’s move aims to help citizens understand the deletion process and secure fair participation.
