RJD moves Supreme Court against voter list revision drive in Bihar seeks stay on SIR process.
Patna, July 7, 2025: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list currently being conducted by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
RJD’s Rajya Sabha MP and chief spokesperson, Dr Manoj Jha, has filed a petition questioning the validity and timing of the SIR process, arguing that it would disenfranchise large sections of voters in the state.
Dr. Jha contended in his petition that with elections around the corner, there is insufficient time for such an exercise, and many citizens, particularly from rural and deprived sections do not possess the specific documents being demanded by the Election Commission for verification. The RJD Rajya Sabha MP also raised objections to the Commission’s alleged refusal to accept valid documents to accept valid documents such as Aadhar cards, ration cards, and MNREGA job cards for voter verification.
Objection of RJD on this initiative:
The Election Commission announced the SIR for Bihar’s voter list on June 24.
Since then, opposition parties have raised concerns over the process, calling it arbitrary and exclusionary.
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and TMC Mahua Moitra has already filed similar petitions in the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the campaign, arguing it violates the right to vote of lakhs of citizens in Bihar.
Earlier, a delegation of Grand Alliance leaders led by Tejashwi Yadav met the State Election Commission in Patna, submitting a memorandum demanding reconsideration of the process and acceptance of other valid documents for verification to protect the rights of the rural and working-class population.
They also warned of state-wide protests if the demands were not addressed.
Speaking to journalists, Tejashwi Yadav questioned the Election Commission’s move to limit acceptable documents to just 11 types.
“Article 326 of the Constitution determines the basis of adult franchise. Then why are documents like Aadhar card, ration card, MNREGA job card unacceptable in this process?” he asked.
The RJD leaders also highlighted the plight of migrant workers from Bihar, stating: “About four crore people from Bihar work in other states. Will they be able to get their verification done in 18 days? Has the government made any plan to bring them back, or is the objective to cut their votes?”
What’s at Stake?
Bihar is set to go to the polls later this year, and the SIR process is critical for updating the voter rolls. However, the opposition argues that conducting such a large-scale revision in a short time, coupled with strict document criteria, could lead to the exclusion of many eligible voters, impacting the democratic process.
Also Read: RJD campaign song projects Tejashwi Yadav as ‘Bihar ka Beta,’ promises change and welfare schemes.
EOM.