The EC said prior to publication of draft electoral roll, it had directed the CEO and others to share with political parties the booth-level list of individuals whose enumeration forms were not received due to any reason and seek their assistance for reaching out to them.

It alleged that the petitioner’s approach was consistent with its earlier attempts to malign the EC by building false narratives on digital, print and social media.

“Such attempts should be appropriately dealt with by this court, and heavy costs should be imposed for petitioner’s attempts to deliberately mislead this court,” it said.

The poll panel said admittedly, after the publication of draft rolls, political parties were supplied with an updated list of names of electors not included in draft roll so as to ensure that all attempts are made to reach out to them.

“The political parties have acknowledged receipt of the said list,” it said.

The EC said, “In yet another attempt to mislead this court, the petitioners emphatically assert that a person whose name has been excluded from the draft roll has no recourse to a remedy as he/she cannot file a claim or objection”.

Referring to detailed guidelines of SIR order of June 24, the poll panel said it expressly provides for inclusion of individuals whose enumeration forms have not been submitted within the specified time.

On 6 August, the apex court had asked the EC to furnish by 9 August the details of around 65 lakh electors left out from the draft electoral rolls.

NGO Association For Democratic Reforms, which has challenged the EC’s 24 June order directing for SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, has filed a fresh application seeking direction to publish names of around 65 lakh deleted voters with the mention of whether they are dead, permanently migrated or not considered for any other reason.