TWO days after the Supreme Court’s suggestion that the Election Commission include Aadhaar, ration card and voter ID in the list of documents in its intensive revision in Bihar, state Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, 2007 batch IAS officer, spoke to The Indian Express. Excerpts:

People hardly have a measure of the work we had… from printing of enumeration forms to its distribution, our staff are working very hard. We have uploaded 56 per cent forms (4.39 cr) in the system and collected forms from 76 per cent (5.98 crore) of the total 7.89 crore existing electors.

How many of these are voters who gave or were not able to give one of the 11 mandated documents?

We have to work on the break-up of this number. The numbers I mention include all forms submitted — with or without one of the 11 documents.

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What happens to those voters who have submitted forms without one of the 11 documents?

We took out advertisements in newspapers twice that voters can submit forms with or without one of 11 documents. There is no need to panic — documents can be submitted by August 30. A BLO (Booth Level Officer) will attach those documents with respective uploaded forms. We also know that there’s been a surge in domicile applications (one of the 11 documents) by voters. They can submit it to us by 30 August.

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What if voters fail to arrange one of these 11 documents by that time?

An Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) who is, generally, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Land Record Deputy Collector (LRDC); Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and or any other similar rank officer, will go as per provisions of Article 326 of RP Act. The ERO/SDM has the revenue record, record of development schemes; the BDO (block development officer) or CO (circle officer) has the history, geography…who all got Indira Awaas, who has what land record. An ERO has to be satisfied about veracity of a voter. If he is not satisfied, he will serve notice to an existing elector through BLO as part of the principle of natural justice.

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But the onus should be on EC to prove one an elector, as was observed by the Supreme Court?

Of course. That’s why due process will be followed. One often complains about improper land record. But the older a land record, the better it is. If it is in name of your grandfather, it is good enough. An ERO will look into all these things. Still, if one’s claim of being a voter is rejected, he or she can appeal before the District Magistrate. That is not very likely since most local officers will verify a voter at their end itself. During the phase of claims and objections (August 1-30), BLOs will collect documents from those who had not submitted it with their forms.

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What about voters who voted in 2004 or in subsequent polls, even Lok Sabha 2024, but are not in the 2003 rolls?

All such voters will fall in the category of new voters, who can apply with form 6 after August 1, online or offline. We are ensuring new voters will be part of electoral roll for upcoming 2025 Assembly polls.

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What’s your response to Supreme Court’s suggestions to consider Aadhar, voter ID and ration cards as well? Voter card is issued by your office.

ECI’s legal team will looking at the suggestions of the Supreme Court. ECI goes per mandate of Article 326. We are here to follow ECI’s order. There are learned people in Honourable Supreme Court and ECI. Let them discuss and decide. Ayog ka mandate hai: sahi electors rahna chahiye, galat katna chahiye.

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What about apprehensions that the SIR is NRC through the backdoor?

ECI has been going only as per its mandate under Article 326. We are here to follow the EC’s orders. We have been working hard at every level to complete the process. We have 24 per cent more forms to collect, we still have some time to do so.

What are you doing to ensure that the large number of people living temporarily out of Bihar are retained in voters’ list.

We have learnt that relatives of such people have been getting signed forms. Some people in rural areas have come back to villages as well. We are also devising an App in the coming two days to facilitate two stages: form submission and document upload through one’s mobile phone.