There are many who may be able to procure the documents but the short timeline mentioned in the directive may preclude them from being able to supply the same within the time period.”Bihar is a state with high poverty and migration rates where many lack access to documents like birth certificates or parental records. As per estimates over 3 crore voters and more particularly from marginalised communities (such as SC, STs and migrant workers) could be excluded from voting due to the stringent requirements as mentioned in the SIR order,” the ADR said.The current reports from Bihar, where SIR is already underway, show that lakhs of voters from villages and marginalized communities do not possess the documents as being sought for them, the ADR said.The ECI’s directive lacks recorded reasons supported by any evidence or transparent methodology, rendering it arbitrary and thus liable to be struck down, ADR added.”The requirement of citizenship documents contravenes the requirement of specific grounds for deletion of names from electoral rolls (e.g., death, non-residence, or disqualification under Section 16 of RPA, 1950),” the ADR submitted.Since 2003, five general elections and five assembly elections have taken place in Bihar with continuous addition and deletion of names in Bihar’s electoral roll.While SIR of Bihar or any other state of the country is a positive step, the manner in which ECI has directed the conduct of SIR in a poll-bound state like Bihar has raised questions from all stakeholders, particularly the voters, the ADR stated further.Moreover, a Special Summary Revision (SSR) was already conducted between October 29, 2024, and January 6, 2025, which addressed issues such as migration and ineligible voters due to death or other reasons.Thus, there is no reason for such a drastic exercise in a poll bound state in such a short period of time, violating right to vote of lakhs of voters, the ADR added.
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