The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept the Aadhaar card as the 12th document for identification in the revised voters’ list prepared under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked the poll body to issue clear instructions to its ground officials for the acceptance of Aadhaar.
The court clarified that voters can use Aadhaar to establish their identity, though it does not prove citizenship.
Court Clarifies Aadhaar Use
The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, noted that ECI officials could verify the authenticity of Aadhaar cards furnished by applicants. The order came while hearing petitions challenging the SIR exercise in Bihar.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal had pointed out that ECI had not instructed its officials to accept Aadhaar cards, despite earlier directions from the apex court.
The bench recalled its 22 August order, which allowed claim forms for inclusion in the voters’ list with any of the 11 documents notified by the ECI or with an Aadhaar card.
During the hearing, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the ECI, argued that an Aadhaar card in the voter list cannot serve as proof of citizenship.
He urged the court to decide whether the ECI had the authority to determine an applicant’s citizenship for the electoral rolls.
Interim Order and Wider Implications
In its interim order, the bench directed treating Aadhaar as the 12th document for Bihar’s ongoing voter list revision.
“Authorities may verify the genuineness of Aadhaar, but it shall not be accepted as proof of citizenship,” the court stated.
The ECI will issue instructions during the day. Meanwhile, sources said the poll body is considering conducting SIR across the country.
A meeting of all state Chief Electoral Officers will take place in Delhi on 10 September, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with other senior officers.
The issue carries wider significance as elections are due next year in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. Reports suggest that the ECI may extend the SIR nationwide ahead of these polls.
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