00:00It was a very important day in the Supreme Court today because Supreme Court has kind of put brakes on the disenfranchisement exercise that was happening.
00:11We did not ask for a stay order. Supreme Court did not give a stay order because that was not required at all.
00:17What was said was that in the current exercise there is a serious danger of disenfranchisement.
00:24The Supreme Court was very alert to that possibility. The judges repeatedly asked the Election Commission,
00:32why is it that you don't accept Aadhaar card while it is mentioned in your own rules of registration of voters?
00:39Why is it that you don't accept epic card which you have yourself issued?
00:44The court also asked that how is it that you are confident that given such a short duration in Bihar,
00:51how can you ensure that no one is disenfranchised?
00:55And the judges clearly said that even if one person is disenfranchised,
01:00you have to give them right to hearing, complete judicial process.
01:05So to my mind, given the prima facie observations the court has made,
01:09because court has been very kind and they always put it politely in a prima facie observation,
01:15but in a sense, the court has put the Election Commission now on a short leash.
01:21Either come back to us within 14 days or we will have to press this order further.
01:27So to my mind, it's an important day to ensure the implementation of universal adult franchise in this country,
01:35which was being threatened.
01:36Sir, as you rightly mentioned, the questions were asked over the timeline,
01:40that the bench questioned the ECI that they might not be able to finish the exercise before the elections,
01:46but the ECI on the other hand seemed cocksure that they will indeed finish the exercise.
01:51So, the question was not on whether the enumerated forms can be given or not.
01:58The question was, the court asked, how is it that you would ensure that every single person who may be dropped out,
02:08who is on the voters list today and may not be on the draft electoral rolls, will get hearing.
02:16Election Commission has to ensure that it would happen.
02:19The court has asked very serious questions.
02:22And most importantly, the court has asked them to reconsider the decision about 11 certificates.
02:27And the moment that is opened up, that of course opened up a huge possibility.
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