August 18, 2025 — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the names of nearly 65 lakh voters removed from Bihar’s electoral list during the Special Electoral Revision (SIR), in line with an order issued by the Supreme Court.
The publication follows weeks of debate after petitions were filed in the apex court questioning the unusually high number of deletions. The court directed the Commission to make the details public to ensure greater transparency in the electoral process.
ECI’s Clarification
Officials from the Commission said the names were deleted for reasons including duplicate registrations, death of voters, or shifting of residence. They stressed that the revision was carried out under the provisions of election law and was aimed at cleaning the rolls of ineligible entries.
Voters whose names appear in the deleted list can submit Form-6 applications to have their details restored before the final rolls are notified. “Placing the deleted names online gives every citizen the chance to verify and appeal if they have been wrongly excluded,” an ECI official stated.
Political Response
The move has prompted sharp political reactions in Bihar. Opposition leaders argued that the large-scale deletions risked disenfranchising genuine voters, especially from vulnerable groups, and accused the government of trying to tilt the electoral balance.
On the other hand, leaders from the ruling alliance defended the exercise, saying the clean-up of voter rolls was a routine statutory responsibility of the Commission and necessary for the credibility of elections. They called on citizens to check the list and file claims promptly if they find irregularities.
Implications Ahead of Polls
The controversy has highlighted the challenge of balancing accuracy in electoral rolls with the need to protect voter rights. With Bihar expected to head into crucial elections in the near future, the issue has already become a central talking point in political campaigns.
The Supreme Court is likely to keep a close watch on the process, and further hearings could be scheduled if new complaints arise.
