Bihar

• The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) did not exceed its statutory powers while conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. • The court rejected arguments that the SIR was "ultra vires," stating that the process is legal even if it differs from the ordinary revision procedure. • This ruling validates the ECI's authority to implement specialized voter list updates across several states, including Bihar and West Bengal.

• The Supreme Court of India validated the Election Commission's (EC) decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Bihar electoral rolls. • A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rejected opposition claims that the exercise was arbitrary or exclusionary. • The court ruled that the SIR aligns with the EC's constitutional mandate to ensure free and fair elections by maintaining the integrity and accuracy of voter lists.

• The BJP has criticized the INDIA bloc, calling for "self-introspection" after the Supreme Court upheld the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. • BJP spokesperson Trivedi stated that the apex court clarified the SIR is essential for ensuring free and fair elections and falls within the Election Commission's constitutional jurisdiction. • The ruling is a significant blow to the opposition's challenges against the electoral roll revision process in the state.