– Mohd.Naushad Khan
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP and national spokesperson Manoj Jha on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s direction to the Election Commission (EC) on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. He called the decision a “ray of light” amid “dark clouds” over citizens’ constitutional rights.
Jha said the apex court’s intervention has brought clarity and transparency. He noted that in earlier revisions, Aadhaar cards were not accepted. “Today, it has been clearly mentioned,” he added.
The Supreme Court directed the EC to make updated voter list data public. It should be available on the EC website and displayed in Panchayat buildings. Citizens can verify their names and raise objections if needed.
Jha stressed the importance of categorisation in deletions. Reasons like death, duplication, or change of residence should be clearly stated. “If my name is missing, I should know the reason. Death data is different, duplication data is different, and shifted data is different,” he said.
He called the move a safeguard for the “most beautiful right in the Indian Constitution — the right to vote.” Jha termed the judgment a protective shield for democracy. “The black clouds over voting rights have been lifted today,” he remarked.
He also indicated that the RJD may review past cases of alleged wrongful deletions. The SSR process in Bihar has faced opposition criticism over large-scale omissions and lack of public scrutiny. The Supreme Court’s order is expected to set a precedent for stricter electoral roll management nationwide.
