Association For Democratic Reforms & Ors. Vs Election Commission of India & Ors. (Supreme Court of India)
The Supreme Court considered a batch of writ petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) order dated 24.06.2025 directing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The petitions argued that the exercise could arbitrarily disenfranchise lakhs of voters and questioned the ECI’s authority, procedure, and timing of the exercise ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
The Court traced the constitutional and historical significance of electoral rolls, emphasizing that the Constitution transformed the electoral roll into the foundation of universal adult franchise through Articles 324, 325, and 326. It noted that the last intensive revision in Bihar had taken place in 2003, after which only summary revisions were conducted. The ECI justified the SIR on grounds of rapid urbanisation, migration, duplication of entries, and the need to maintain accurate electoral rolls.
Under the impugned order, the 2003 electoral roll was treated as probative evidence of eligibility unless rebutted. Electors not appearing in the 2003 roll were required to submit one or more prescribed documents along with an Enumeration Form by 25.07.2025, failing which their names would not appear in the draft roll. The ECI also prescribed scrutiny by Electoral Registration Officers and provided a mechanism for show-cause notices, reasoned orders, and appeals.
