Amid demands by some opposition parties that the Election Commission withdraw its direction to verify the identity of burqa-clad women at Bihar's polling stations, the EC on Thursday (October 16) defended its move saying it is implementing a decision taken as far back as 1994 when TN Seshan was heading the poll authority.

The Samajwadi Party has demanded the withdrawal of EC's decision to check burqa-clad women during voting in Bihar.

Also Read: SC asks Election Commission to fix errors in Bihar voter list in SIR case

1994 EC order

An EC spokesperson said that in October 1994, the poll body had ordered a dignified method of identifying burqa-clad women electors at polling stations.

"...to protect the sensitivity regarding privacy of women voters, separate enclosures for identificati

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