Revision of Bihar poll rolls riddled with violations, should be cancelled: Jean Drèze
Various popular groups in Bihar held a public hearing on Monday, July 21, 2025 to examine the ongoing secret (special intensive revision) in the state. The panel concluded that the secret should be changed.
Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, National Folk Movements Alliance (NAPM), Samar No Trust, Swaraj Abhiyan and Kosi Navnirman Manch organized together Jan Sunwai In Bihar Industries Association (BIA)
Panel Anjana Prakash (former Judge Patna Supreme Court); Wajahat Habibullah (former Chief Information Commissioner); Economist Jean Drèze; Professor Nandini Sundar, Delhi School of Economics; Dr. DM Diwakar, Former Director Sinha Institute of Social Sciences, Patna; And the founder of Bhanwar Meghwanshi Forward Press.
Illiterate struggle
People from 14 districts have experienced and shared their experiences with the panel. The illiterate voters reported that he had to pay 100 la to fill the form.
Kanchan giant from the Katihar region, said he paid 100 la to fill his form. Rukma Giant from the same region had a similar complaint.
Ram Chandra Prasad from Nalanda said that he would challenge the form in court because he could not get a approval receipt after sending the form with the stand level officer (Blo).
Phool Kumari giant, a worker from Katihar, said Blo wanted AADHAR and voter card to take copies of photography.
“I traveled to 4 km to get a passport photo. I didn’t have the money to sell my ration rice.
Forms sent without consent
In more than one situation, voters discovered that their forms have already been sent by Blo. Even their signatures were not taken.
Nirmal Kumar, who lives in Patna, claimed that his relatives were already filling and protested that their forms were already filled and sent online.
Many of them said that the numbering forms were distributed by Blos, but by the ward council members, Anganwadi workers and sanitary staff. Many voters have not received any instructions on how to fill the forms. Many houses took a few members forms and others did not.
People from the Kosi region said that their documents were washed by more than one flood in their regions.
Sir’s purpose is not clear
After listening to the participants, Mr. Drèze said that even after reading the election commission of India’s 20 -page notification, Sir said it was uncertain.
“According to Bharat Jodo Abhiyan’s survey, 37% of you do not have the documents sought by the commission.
He also said that Sir is not practical and impossible, so it should not be changed but it should be canceled.
“Sir should not be changed, but it should be canceled. While completing the goals under irrational pressure, ECI’s own processes have been more than one violation of their own processes. This will worsen the quality of the list of voters and overcome the specified purpose of ECI,” Mr. Drèze said.
Hard to supply documents
Ms. Prakash said it is impossible to send ECI’s documents for many rural Bihas.
Mr. Habibullah emphasized that ECI’s work is to encourage people to vote and create a situation that helps voters, but through Sir, the survey organ has created problems for voters and makes their way difficult.
On the other hand, Mr. Meghwansi said that the Sir process is a threat to the foreword of the constitution and political equality.
Professor Diwakar said today, democracy, neither for people nor for people, nor by people, and everyone should try to get it back.
Expressing the concern, Ms. Sunder said that Sir was a danger to democracy and hoped that the voice of the people would be heard.
Published – 22 July 2025 04:00
