September 8th 2025.
In New Delhi, the Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to include Aadhaar cards as a valid form of identification in the updated voters' list for the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar. This instruction comes after the poll body was ordered to allow the use of Aadhaar cards in addition to the 11 documents previously accepted for identification. However, the court made it clear that Aadhaar cards should not be considered as proof of citizenship, but rather as a means to establish a person's identity.
The court also stated that ECI officials have the right to verify the authenticity and validity of the Aadhaar cards submitted by voters. This decision was made after the court heard several petitions challenging the ECI's order to conduct the SIR in Bihar. During the hearing, it was pointed out that the poll body had not instructed its officials on the ground to accept Aadhaar cards, leading to non-compliance with previous court orders.
In an earlier order, the court had allowed the submission of the claim form for inclusion in the voters' list with any of the 11 documents approved by the ECI, or with an Aadhaar card. However, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, argued that Aadhaar cards should not be considered as proof of citizenship and asked the court to decide if the poll body has the authority to determine a person's citizenship for the purpose of electoral rolls.
In response, the court clarified that Aadhaar cards can be accepted as proof of identity and should be treated as the 12th document during the revision of the voters' list. However, it reiterated that Aadhaar cards should not be considered as proof of citizenship. The ECI has been instructed to issue necessary instructions regarding the acceptance of Aadhaar cards by the end of the day.
Meanwhile, amid the ongoing legal challenge to the SIR in Bihar, sources claim that the ECI is considering conducting SIR in other states as well. A meeting has been called on September 10 in Delhi, which will be attended by the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioners, and other senior officials of the poll body. This meeting holds significance as elections are scheduled next year in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, and there are reports of the ECI planning to conduct SIR across the country.
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