Bihar, Aug.18,2025: Reacting to legal challenges, a Supreme Court bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi on August 14, 2025, issued an interim order demanding the EC publish the
What Sparked the Controversy
The Bihar 65 lakh voters deleted list controversy stems from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted before the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Under SIR, the Election Commission required extensive documentation—excluding widely held IDs like Aadhaar and Voter ID—for inclusion in the draft list. As a result, nearly 65 lakh voters were omitted, prompting allegations of voter disenfranchisement and procedural opacity.
Supreme Court’s Firm Directive
Reacting to legal challenges, a Supreme Court bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi on August 14, 2025, issued an interim order demanding the EC publish the deleted names with reasons, in a booth-wise, district-wise manner—searchable by EPIC number—and widely publicize the lists. These lists were to be accessible physically at booth-level offices and through media channels. Aadhaar and EPIC were also permitted as valid ID proofs for raising objections.
EC’s Rapid Compliance: 56 Hours Later
In a visibly swift response, the EC published the Bihar 65 lakh voters deleted list within 56 hours of the court’s directive. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar confirmed that the list is available on district magistrates’ websites and the Bihar CEO portal.
What’s in the Deleted List? Reasons Revealed
According to the CEO of Bihar, Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, the 65 lakh removed names were accompanied by removal reasons—categorized as “Deceased,” “Permanently Shifted,” “Absent,” or “Repeated Entry.” Of the total 7.89 crore voters, the first draft included 7.24 crore; the deleted subset thus marks a significant drop. Reports detail that around 36 lakh were marked as migrated and 22 lakh as deceased.
How Voters Can Check
Voters can check their inclusion status using their EPIC number on the Bihar CEO’s website or district portals, which redirect to the ECI’s voter service portal. Booth-wise downloadable lists include vital details—name, EPIC number, age, gender, and removal reason—to ensure transparency and enable timely claims
Political and Public Backlash
The publication has triggered political backlash:
- Opposition leaders call it an attack on democracy. CPI(ML) labeled it as the “biggest attack” on India’s Constitution, citing mass disenfranchisement—especially of marginalized communities and migrants.
- Congress mobilized protests nationwide under the ‘vote chori’ campaign, demanding trusteeship over election integrity. Rahul Gandhi and others led rallies and threatened legal action.
- Public figures and watchdogs, like the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), pushed for transparency and cautioned about systemic voter exclusion.
With the final electoral roll due by September 1, Bihar enters a crucial review window where affected voters can submit claims using Aadhaar or EPIC as proof. Political parties and civil society are closely watching the process. The Supreme Court has slated the next hearing for August 22, where the EC’s compliance report will be assessed.
