The petitioners complained that 65 lakh people have been excluded from the draft electoral roll, with ECI claiming they are either dead or shifted elsewhere permanently.

The top court said that the actions of the ECI would be in keeping with its status as a constitutional institution and in accordance with law.

The Supreme Court further assured the petitioners that the court would be looking into their pleas with greater care.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it will “step in” if there is a mass exclusion of names following the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi told petitioners—who are challenging the Election Commission’s exercise—to point out any individuals illegally omitted from the Draft List after its publication on August 1.

“If there is en masse exclusion, we will step in. We are overseeing the process and will step in if needed,” the bench said. The top court noted that the January 2025 voter list is the basis on which the SIR is being conducted. The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on August 12–13.