The domicile certificate commonly used as a certificate to recognise the people having a proof of permanent residence has emerged as the most sought – after document in Bihar during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll .
The Election Commission of India updated norms are aimed at weeding out inaccuracies and duplicate entries in the voter list but this the special revision in Bihar’s electoral rolls has triggered political friction before this year’s assembly elections , with opposition parties questioning the document requirements and timing .
Bihar, with around 7.89 crore registered voters, is witnessing administrative bottlenecks and mounting public anxiety over the looming July 25 deadline .
In rural areas or places where a lot of population are migrants , a lot of voters lack documents like passports, birth certificates, or land papers. As a result , a majority are turning to the domicile certificate which can be acquired by submitting Aadhaar as proof of identity and address , even though Aadhaar itself is not accepted by the Electoral Commission as reliable proof for voter eligibility.
Over 13 lakh domicile certificate applications have been submitted to public service centres statewide since the launch of the Special Intensive Revision , whereas , around 9.1 lakh certificates are still pending for clearance .
The RTPS officer of Darbhanga stated ““We have never seen such a rush,” he further added “Our staff is working overtime, but server issues and internet outages in rural blocks are slowing things down.”
Opposition figures, including RJD MP Manoj Jha, have tagged the SIR , a “malicious” tool targeting migrants lacking local domicile proof . Formal petitions have been filed against it in the Supreme Court .
In response, the ECI stated that even those without qualifying documents can still submit enumeration forms via Booth Level Officers, with subsequent verification as needed . As the deadline nears, Bihar’s rural populace remains on edge, with the domicile certificate becoming the focal point of a high-stakes administrative and electoral challenge
