SC Accepts Aadhaar in Bihar Voter List Revision
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept Aadhaar as valid proof for citizens seeking to restore their names in Bihar’s voter list. Until now, only 11 specific documents were permitted for verification. The court said Aadhaar should be included to make the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process more accessible and voter-friendly.
Transparency in Deletions
The apex court also ordered the ECI to make public the list of nearly 65 lakh voters removed from the draft rolls in Bihar. The published list must include reasons for deletion and should be made available online and at local offices. The move, the court said, was necessary to maintain transparency and help affected voters challenge their exclusion.
Court’s Observation
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi expressed surprise over the lack of action by political parties in defending voters’ rights. The judges observed that the revision exercise must not become a hurdle for genuine voters and should remain citizen-friendly. They emphasized that ease of re-enrollment is crucial for strengthening democratic participation.
Election Commission’s Response
Following the directive, the Election Commission uploaded the deleted voter list within 56 hours. Citizens and political groups have been urged to verify the details and submit claims or objections before the notified deadline. Officials made it clear that corrections will not be entertained after the cut-off date.
Political and Public Reaction
Opposition parties and rights activists welcomed the verdict, describing it as a step towards protecting voting rights. Petitioners in the case said including Aadhaar and making deletions public will help prevent wrongful disenfranchisement. The debate around the SIR process, however, continues, with concerns raised about how large-scale deletions were carried out in the first place.
