Revision of Electoral Rolls in Bihar | Judgement Matrix

On 27 May 2026, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi unanimously upheld the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. The Election Commission of India (ECI) began its pilot project of cleaning up electoral rolls in Bihar, with the measure continuing in other states such as West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, and Goa, etc. The initial challenge against the Bihar SIR was heard by a partial working days bench in July 2025. 

Following 29 days of arguments spanning seven months, the Court reserved judgement in January 2026. The petitioners had argued that the SIR risks mass exclusion of voters and runs counter to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (ROPA). Moreover, they contended that the 11 documents sought by the ECI for the exercise amounted to an impermissible inquiry into citizenship of a person, an exercise entirely beyond the ECI’s mandate. 

The ECI defended the SIR by relying on Article 324, asserting its plenary power over “superintendence, direction and control” of the preparation of rolls. It further argued that it was constitutionally obligated to verify citizenship to decide voter eligibility, given only Indian citizens can vote. Furthermore, the ECI maintained that both ROPA and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 (1960 Rules) permits it to carry out “special revisions”, considering that the last intensive exercise took place over 20 years ago in 2003. 

The Supreme Court upheld the ECI’s view. In this judgement, we provide a snapshot of the key holdings on the issues.