The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission to include Aadhaar cards as valid identity proof for voter re-verification ahead of Bihar’s upcoming Assembly elections, adding it as the 12th accepted document alongside existing options.
Supreme Court’s Verbal Order On Aadhaar Card
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued the directive during proceedings on the Election Commission’s ‘special intensive revision’ (SIR) of Bihar’s voter rolls. The court mandated that Aadhaar cards should be accepted “to establish identity of an individual for the purpose of inclusion in, or exclusion from, the electoral roll.”
Addressing Forgery Concerns
Acknowledging the Election Commission’s earlier objections about potential Aadhaar forgery, the court established safeguards. Election officials were empowered to “verify the genuineness of the card,” while clarifying that Aadhaar cannot be used to establish citizenship – only identity verification.
The ruling echoed the court’s July observation that forgery risks, which the EC cited for rejecting other documents, could theoretically affect any of the 11 currently accepted identity proofs.
Political Storm Over Voter Revision
The Supreme Court is hearing multiple petitions challenging the Election Commission’s special intensive revision of Bihar’s electoral rolls, conducted months before the state polls. The opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance, comprising Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal, has mounted fierce resistance to the process.
Opposition parties argue the revision represents “subterfuge to disenfranchise lakhs of men and women from communities that traditionally vote for them.” Congress has escalated accusations further, alleging “collusion to commit voter fraud” between the ruling BJP and Election Commission.
Election Commission’s Defense
The poll panel has consistently defended its SIR process, maintaining it operates “within legal and constitutional mandates” and emphasizing that “the voter re-verification process was carried out in a transparent manner.”
Broader Implications
This Supreme Court intervention comes as Bihar prepares for crucial Assembly elections later this year. The inclusion of Aadhaar as acceptable identity proof could significantly impact voter registration patterns, potentially affecting millions of eligible voters who possess Aadhaar cards but lack other traditional identity documents.
The ruling represents a significant judicial intervention in electoral processes, balancing administrative efficiency with democratic participation rights.
