After intense questioning by the Supreme Court, the Election Commission has agreed to share the names of voters deleted during Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) told the Supreme Court on Thursday that it often finds itself "caught in the crossfire between political parties" — especially when it comes to controversial issues like electronic voting machines (EVMs) and electoral roll revisions.

During a hearing on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the ECI defended its recent decisions and clarified its position before a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.

“Whenever a party wins, EVMs are fine. But the moment they lose, EVMs become problematic,” the poll body said, reflecting the frequent political blame game it faces.

The hearing was part of a case challenging the EC’s June 24 decision to conduct a special revision of Bihar’s voter list. The Supreme Court pressed the EC on transparency, especially regarding the names of voters who were removed from the rolls — such as those who have died, migrated, or moved to other constituencies.

The bench asked, “Why can’t you disclose the names of these deleted voters?” While the EC said these lists were already shared with political parties, the court emphasized that citizens shouldn’t have to rely on political outfits to access this information.

“Why can’t you put these names on a display board or a website? That way, if someone has been wrongly deleted, they have 30 days to take action,” the court added.

Following the court’s push, the Election Commission agreed to publish the names of the voters removed during the Bihar SIR process. The Supreme Court also advised the poll body to consider issuing a public notice explaining where such information can be accessed — either online or at a designated public location. [Also Know - Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls Begins Across Tamil Nadu Ahead of 2026 Assembly Elections]

Opposition to Bihar’s Voter Roll Revision

The revision drive has faced backlash from several opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress, and the election watchdog NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), who claim the process could potentially be used to manipulate the voter base.

However, in an earlier hearing on August 13, the Supreme Court acknowledged that voter lists naturally require updating over time and cannot remain “static.” It also noted that the EC's decision to expand the list of acceptable identity documents for voter verification from 7 to 11 was actually “voter-friendly” and not meant to be exclusionary. [Also Read - ECI Orders Special Revision of Assam’s Electoral Rolls Ahead of 2026 Elections]

The case continues to be closely watched, as it touches on broader concerns around voter rights, electoral transparency, and the integrity of democratic processes.