Context: The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to include Aadhaar as the 12th “indicative” document, in addition to the 11 documents permitted for identification in order to be included in the final electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar ahead of Assembly elections.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key developments: SIR controversy in Bihar.
Accept Aadhaar as Identity Proof: SC
- The SC has directed the EC to accept Aadhaar as a valid proof of identity or residence from persons filing claims or objections to final electoral roll during the SIR.
- The bench clarified that the use of Aadhaar would strictly be as proof of identity, and not as evidence of Indian citizenship.
- The authorities concerned should verify the genuineness of Aadhaar cards, just the way they would do in the case of the other 11 documents.
SIR controversy in Bihar: Expulsion of Voters
- The SIR's findings reduced the total number of registered voters in Bihar from 7.89 crore prior to the exercise to 7.24 crore after conducting it. Approximately 65 lakh voters were excluded from the draft rolls published on August 1.
- The deadline for filing claims to include names and file objections to exclude names for reasons such as death, permanent shifting, and duplication, was September 1.
- The EC has clarified that the claims and objections were welcome even beyond the deadline.
Also Read: Special Intensive Revision in Bihar: Legal Basis and Criticism