New Delhi (National Times): The Supreme Court on Thursday advised the Election Commission of India (ECI) to include Aadhaar cards, Voter ID cards, and ration cards as valid documents for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls currently underway in Bihar. The directive comes amid rising concerns over the accessibility and fairness of the voter verification process ahead of the state’s upcoming assembly elections.
The bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi acknowledged the ECI’s statement that the earlier list of 11 accepted documents (issued on June 24) was not exhaustive but illustrative. The Court said it would be in the “interest of justice” for the ECI to consider additional widely held documents like Aadhaar, EPIC (Voter ID), and ration cards.
At the same time, the Court clarified that inclusion of a voter’s name in the rolls would remain subject to the Commission’s discretion and verification processes, and not solely based on the submission of any one document.
The petitions filed challenge the ECI’s powers and procedures in the current revision drive. Observing the significance of the matter, the Court remarked, “This case raises fundamental questions that go to the root of our democracy, the right to vote.” The bench listed three critical concerns for deeper examination:
- Whether the ECI has the authority to carry out such an exercise at this time.
- The manner and fairness of the voter verification process.
- The short timelines set for drafting, objecting to, and finalizing the electoral rolls—especially with the Bihar elections expected in November and official notifications likely to be issued weeks in advance.
The Court has directed the Election Commission to submit its counter-affidavit by July 21, and the matter will next be heard on July 28. The petitioners, for now, have chosen not to seek interim relief, as the hearing will take place before the scheduled publication of the draft electoral roll on August 1.
The Court’s observations come as opposition leaders continue to express fears that the document-based revision process could disenfranchise large segments of voters, especially those from marginalised communities.
The outcome of this legal challenge could have wide-ranging implications not just for Bihar, but for future electoral roll revisions across India.
