The Crossbill News Desk
The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1) declined to issue any specific direction on a plea seeking an extension of the September 1 deadline for filing claims and objections to the draft voters’ list in Bihar, noting the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) submission that the process can continue beyond the cut-off date.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had approached the court seeking an additional two weeks for filing claims and objections.
In response, the ECI, through a note placed before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, clarified that “the filing of claims or objections or corrections is not barred after 01.09.2025.”
It further said, “These can be submitted even after the deadline. The applications submitted for claims, objections, or corrections after 01.09.2025 will be considered after the electoral roll has been finalised. The process of consideration of claims and objections continues until the last date of nominations, and all inclusions and exclusions are integrated in the final roll,” The Indian Express reported.
Taking the note on record, the bench observed, “As regards extension of time, note (by ECI) says that filing of claims/objections or corrections is not barred after 1st September. It is stated that the claims/objections/corrections can be submitted even after the deadline, i.e. after 1st September and same will be considered after roll has been finalised. The process will continue until the last date of nominations and all inclusions/exclusions are integrated in the final roll. In light of this stand, let the claims/objections/corrections be continued to be filed. Meanwhile, political parties/petitioners may submit their affidavits in response to the note.”
The court also directed the executive chairman of the Bihar State Legal Services Authority to instruct all District Legal Services Authorities to depute paralegal volunteers, with their names and mobile numbers, to assist individual voters and political parties in filing claims, objections, or corrections online. This was to be done by Tuesday noon.
These volunteers were asked to submit confidential reports to the concerned district judge, which would then be collated at the State Legal Services Authority level.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had approached the court seeking an additional two weeks for filing claims and objections.
In response, the ECI, through a note placed before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, clarified that “the filing of claims or objections or corrections is not barred after 01.09.2025.”
It further said, “These can be submitted even after the deadline. The applications submitted for claims, objections, or corrections after 01.09.2025 will be considered after the electoral roll has been finalised. The process of consideration of claims and objections continues until the last date of nominations, and all inclusions and exclusions are integrated in the final roll,” The Indian Express reported.
Taking the note on record, the bench observed, “As regards extension of time, note (by ECI) says that filing of claims/objections or corrections is not barred after 1st September. It is stated that the claims/objections/corrections can be submitted even after the deadline, i.e. after 1st September and same will be considered after roll has been finalised. The process will continue until the last date of nominations and all inclusions/exclusions are integrated in the final roll. In light of this stand, let the claims/objections/corrections be continued to be filed. Meanwhile, political parties/petitioners may submit their affidavits in response to the note.”
The court also directed the executive chairman of the Bihar State Legal Services Authority to instruct all District Legal Services Authorities to depute paralegal volunteers, with their names and mobile numbers, to assist individual voters and political parties in filing claims, objections, or corrections online. This was to be done by Tuesday noon.
These volunteers were asked to submit confidential reports to the concerned district judge, which would then be collated at the State Legal Services Authority level.
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