On the second day of hearing on the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, some petitioners demanded the cancellation of the entire process. Some said that he is not against SIR, but it is wrong to do it in a hurry. Doing this in the election year can deprive many qualified voters of voting. The Election Commission will respond on the third day of the hearing on Thursday, August 14.
All opportunity to speak to everyone
Only 2 days were kept for hearing about the draft list of Bihar SIR. But the bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joyamalya Bagchi said that they will give full opportunity to speak. The court also raised many questions to the petitioner side. The court said that it cannot be said that the Election Commission does not have the power of special revision. The court also said that the Election Commission had accepted only 7 papers in the Samri Revision held at the end of last year. Now it has been increased to 11. This voter will be considered friendly.
‘It is wrong to happen in the biggest democracy’
Senior advocate Gopal Shankaranarayan demanded the cancellation of SIR on behalf of the Petitioner Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). He said that everything is happening arbitrarily. The basis of review has been made on the 2003 list. Those who were involved in it are getting concession. The question is that who has voted in the 10 elections since 2003, how can it be excluded from the voter list now? It should not be allowed in the country that proudly calls himself the biggest democracy.
‘240 people impossible in 1 house’
Prashant Bhushan put the side on behalf of ADR. He said that 10.6 and 12.6% people in 2 districts are not named in the draft list. BLOs are working arbitrarily. In many places, BLOs are submitting themselves by filling the form. The deceased people are also finding a place in the list. “Bhushan also said that 240 people are recorded at 1 address in the draft list. Justice Kant said,” It is not possible for so many people to live in the house. “
The judges of Rahul’s press conference are not aware
Prashant Bhushan said that the first draft list was uploaded in the winter format. It was easy to find names in it. Rahul Gandhi held a press conference regarding the disturbances of the Election Commission. After that, instead of the winter list, a scanned copy was put on the website. On this, Justice Surya Kant said, “We are not aware of any press conference.”
‘SIR wrong in election year’
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi also debated for the petitioner side. Singhvi said that SIR is planned in Bengal after Bihar. It should not be done in a hurry in the election year. Singhvi said that SIR notification was issued in 2003, 22 years ago, when Maharashtra and Arunachal were left because elections were going to be held there. But now it is being done 6 months before the election.
‘No hearing on Bengal yet’
Lawyers like Gopal Shankaranarayan and Kalyan Banerjee also feared SIR to start in West Bengal. Shankaranarayan said that on August 8, the Election Commission has sent a notice of SIR to the state government. On this, the court said that the case of Bengal is not being heard yet. It cannot even say that the process in Bengal will be similar to Bihar. It may be that the Election Commission changes the process for there.