Bihar Voter Roll Revision: SC urges ECI to include Aadhaar, EPIC

New Delhi, Jul 28: The Supreme Court on Monday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to include Aadhaar and Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) as acceptable documents for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned the rationale behind excluding Aadhaar and EPIC, noting that any identity document could potentially be forged. “It should be mass inclusion, not mass exclusion… Please include Aadhaar,” the Bench remarked, according to Bar and Bench.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the ECI’s June 24 directive for the SIR exercise, which petitioners claimed violates Articles 14, 19, 21, 325, and 326 of the Constitution, as well as procedures under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, defended the directive, stating the revision was essential due to demographic shifts and that Aadhaar and ration cards could be obtained through fraudulent documentation. He said Aadhaar is accepted, but only with a supporting document.

The Court questioned this approach, with Justice Bagchi asking, “If someone uploads the form with Aadhaar, why will you not include it?” Justice Kant added, “Any document can be forged. Let us proceed with Aadhaar and EPIC.” Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), sought a stay on the finalisation of the electoral rolls. The Court declined, reiterating that the process would continue but added that it retained the power to quash the final roll if needed. The matter could not be fully heard as the Bench had to rise for a meeting with the Chief Justice of India. The Court asked the parties to submit a timeline for their arguments. Bar and Bench.