Supreme Court Allows Aadhaar as Proof for Bihar Voters Seeking Re-Inclusion in Rolls

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed voters in Bihar, who were struck off the electoral roll ahead of the state’s crucial election later this year, to use their Aadhaar card as valid proof of identity for re-inclusion.

The court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to add Aadhaar to its list of 11 acceptable documents for claims and objections.

Hearing petitions against the “special intensive revision” of the electoral rolls, the bench headed by Justice Surya Kant and also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi estimated that nearly 35 lakh voters remain excluded after deductions for deaths and duplicate entries.

The court ordered that all applications for re-enrolment must be filed by September 1, stressing that the process can be completed online.

In a sharp rebuke to Bihar’s political class, the apex court questioned why parties that had accused the revision exercise of being “designed to disenfranchise” communities loyal to them were not actively assisting affected voters. “Political parties are not doing their jobs… What are your BLAs (booth-level agents) doing?” the bench asked, pointing out that out of 1.6 lakh BLAs, only two objections were filed.

The court also directed that acknowledgment receipts must be issued whenever BLAs or voters submit re-inclusion forms, after complaints that officials were not recording

Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing petitioners, argued that the problem extended beyond 65 lakh voters. Responding, the court said it was “surprised by the inaction of political parties”, adding that individual voters appeared more proactive than political outfits that had criticised the roll revision.

The ECI told the court that around 85,000 voters who were excluded in draft rolls have already sought re-inclusion, while more than two lakh new voters have applied to register. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the poll panel, sought 15 days to demonstrate that “there have been no wrongful exclusions”, urging the court to place trust in the Election Commission.

The case will be heard next on September 8, with the court impleading political parties in the matter and seeking their responses.