In a landmark move safeguarding democratic rights, the Supreme Court of India has ordered the Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BSLSA) to provide free legal aid to over 3.77 lakh individuals whose names were excluded from the voter list during the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued the interim order, emphasizing that no citizen should lose their right to vote due to lack of legal or procedural knowledge. The court directed that District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) must mobilize paralegal volunteers and legal aid counsels to assist all affected individuals in filing appeals against their deletion.
Ensuring Access to Justice
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the bench stated:
“As the deadline for filing appeals is approaching, we request the Executive Chairman of Bihar SLA to immediately send communication to all DLSA secretaries to deploy paralegal volunteers and free legal aid counsels for excluded persons.”
The order also mandates that every village must have updated contact details of paralegal volunteers who will coordinate with Booth Level Officers (BLOs). These volunteers are tasked with:
◆Identifying people whose names were removed from the final voter list.
◆Informing them about their right to appeal.
◆Assisting in drafting and filing appeals.
◆Ensuring free legal support for those affected.
Concerns Over Mass Deletions
Petitioners had earlier warned that the SIR process led to arbitrary deletions without adequate verification, potentially disenfranchising genuine voters and undermining free and fair elections.
The Court, which previously sought a detailed report on the 3.7 lakh disenfranchised voters, noted that the deletion of 65 lakh names and addition of 21 lakh new ones raised serious concerns about the accuracy of the electoral process.
Election Commission’s Stand
The Election Commission of India (ECI) defended its actions, claiming that the voter list revision was conducted within legal bounds to remove ineligible or duplicate entries. The EC maintained that the exercise aimed to enhance the credibility of the electoral roll.
Democracy Upheld
With this interim order, the Supreme Court has once again underlined its commitment to protecting citizens’ voting rights — ensuring that no individual is excluded from India’s democratic process due to lack of access to justice.
The deployment of paralegal volunteers and free legal aid teams marks a major step toward transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in India’s electoral system.
