ADR moves Supreme Court against ECI's Bihar voter verification drive
New Delhi: The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) recent directive mandating large sections of voters in Bihar to furnish proof of citizenship in order to remain on the electoral rolls.
Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the petition seeks to quash the ECI’s June 24 order initiating a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar.
The plea argues that the directive violates constitutional provisions including Articles 14, 19, 21, 325 and 326, and contravenes the Representation of the People Act, 1950, as well as Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
ADR has raised strong objections to the exclusion of commonly held documents such as Aadhaar and ration cards for citizenship verification. It contends that such exclusions would disproportionately impact poor and marginalised communities, especially in rural Bihar.
"The documentation requirements of the directive, lack of due process, and the unreasonably short timeline are bound to result in the removal of names of lakhs of genuine voters, leading to their disenfranchisement," the petition states.
As per the SIR guidelines, those not included in the 2003 electoral rolls are required to provide citizenship documents. For voters born after December 2004, the directive mandates documents of both the individual and their parents. In cases where a parent is a foreign national, their passport and visa at the time of the applicant’s birth must also be submitted.
The petition points out that birth registration levels in Bihar remain low and many residents lack access to official documents. ADR estimates that over three crore voters could be affected.
It further argues that Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, allows for a special revision only if the reasons are recorded, which the ECI has allegedly failed to do. The petition highlights that a Special Summary Revision was already held in the State between October 2024 and January 2025, and there were no major irregularities reported.
The plea also flags the short deadline, voters must submit required forms and documents by July 25 or risk exclusion from the draft rolls. The final electoral list is set to be published by September 30.
Along with ADR, individual voters from Bihar have also joined the petition, claiming direct impact from the new rules.
The petition, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, seeks an immediate stay on the June 24 directive to prevent large-scale voter disenfranchisement.
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Chlorine gas leaks at defunct water purification plant in Pune; 24 persons hospitalised
Pune, Apr 30 (PTI): At least 22 residents and two firemen were hospitalised after a chlorine gas leakage at Kondhwa in Pune after midnight on Thursday, fire officials said.
The leak originated from an abandoned tank containing chlorine at a defunct water purification plant godown in the Gangadham area around 1 am, they said.
"Following the leak and the subsequent spread of gas, residents in the vicinity complained of breathlessness. Upon receiving the call, fire teams were dispatched. Several citizens were evacuated, and the leaking tank was patched using safety equipment," a fire official said.
During the operation, 22 residents and two fire personnel complained of breathlessness and were rushed to the hospital, he said.
A man who previously operated the water purification plant at the site said he had dismantled the unit, but the tank containing chlorine appeared to have remained unattended and developed a leak.
"All the affected residents and the two fire personnel are out of danger and currently under observation at Sassoon General Hospital," the official said.
