The Supreme Court has once again urged the Election Commission to accept the Aadhaar card and the electoral photo identity card as valid documents for confirming voter identity during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral polls going on in Bihar.
The Election Commission started the SIR in Bihar on June 24. According to the ECI, there are 11 documents a person needs for updating the voter roll. These are: any identity card or Pension Payment Order for a regular employee or pensioner, any identity card, certificate, or document issued in India before July 1, 1987, a birth certificate, a passport, a matriculation or educational certificate, a permanent residence certificate, an OBC, SC, ST, or any caste certificate, the national register of citizens, a family register, and any land or house allotment certificate from the government.
The bench expressed its initial agreement with the Supreme Court’s order, noting that the Election Commission had acknowledged in its counter affidavit the acceptance of Aadhaar, voter cards, and ration cards, as reported by PTI.
The court pointed out that while ration cards could be easily forged, Aadhaar and voter cards are inherently authentic and should continue to be recognized as valid documents. A division bench, consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, stated that the schedule for the final hearing would be set on July 29.
The NGO’s representative, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, requested a pause on finalizing electoral rolls and publishing draft rolls. The court mentioned that since the petitioners had not asked for interim relief before, it could not be granted now. The matter would be resolved during the hearing.
According to the EC, the SIR saw over 7.24 crore of Bihar’s 7.89 crore electors participate, making the turnout rate nearly 92%. However, several affidavits and field reports dispute this number, claiming enumeration forms were uploaded en masse by BLOs without voter consent. ADR and other petitioners asserted that even deceased individuals were recorded as having submitted forms, raising concerns about systemic fraud to meet internal targets.
The EC has stated that no name will be removed without a “speaking order” and adequate notice. Draft rolls will be published on August 1, and electors or parties can file claims or objections until September 1. Appeals can be made to the District Magistrate or CEO if necessary.