The Supreme Court on Monday termed the confusion regarding the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voters' list in election-ready Bihar as primarily a "trust issue," asking political parties to "activate" themselves.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was considering petitions moved by Bihar's political leaders to extend the September 1 deadline for submitting claims and objections to the draft electoral list made public by the Election Commission of India.
The apex court noted the ECI’s submission that claims and objections could still be submitted after the September 1 deadline and would be considered even after the electoral roll is finalised, according to LiveLaw.
Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, pointed out that political parties were mostly filing objections seeking deletion of voters from the draft list rather than claims for inclusion, calling it "very strange."
Activist Prashant Bhushan, however, pointed out that the August 22 order for Aadhaar-based inclusion was issued. He contended that the election body is not following its own manuals "about transparency." Justice Surya Kant pointed out that "the first part in the process is submission."
Dwivedi further stated that the pleas set out before the highest court on Monday did not raise any questions in regard to submission of forms, addition or removal of voters. Justice Kant further stated that these issues would be better decided in the presence of political parties.
"This unfortunate trust deficit...we can ask the district legal services authority to provide volunteers to bridge gap," he was quoted by LiveLaw.
In its order, the Supreme Court said, “As regards extension of time, note says that filing of claims/objections or corrections is not barred after 1 Sept. It is stated that the claims/objections/corrections can be submitted even after the deadline ie after 1 Sept and same will be considered after roll has been finalized. Process will continue until last date of nominations and all inclusions/exclusions are integrated in the final roll. In light of this stand, let the claims/objections/corrections be continued to be filed. Meanwhile, political parties/petitioners may submit their affidavits in response to the note.”
The court also ordered the Executive Chairman of the Bihar Legal Services Authority to send directions, hopefully by Tuesday noon, to all district Legal Services Authorities for informing para-legal volunteers, names and mobile numbers, who will help voters and political parties in filing claims, objections, or corrections through the net.
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