NEW DELHI, July 10 — The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to consider Aadhaar, Voter ID (EPIC), and Ration Card as valid documents during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, while making it clear that the Commission would have to give reasons if it chose not to do so.
“In our prima facie opinion, in the interest of justice, the Election Commission will also include these documents… Aadhaar, Ration card and EPIC card,” said a Bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi, allowing the poll panel to go ahead with the exercise.
The court clarified that Aadhaar was not a conclusive proof of citizenship — a domain belonging to the Ministry of Home Affairs — but maintained that the EC would need to justify any exclusion of such documents.
The court’s remarks came during the hearing of over ten petitions challenging the ECI’s June 24 order to begin an SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar — the first such revision in the state since 2003. The petitioners, including civil society organisations like the Association for Democratic Reforms and PUCL, as well as political leaders from RJD, Congress, TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), CPI, CPI (ML), Samajwadi Party and JMM, alleged that the revision process could disenfranchise nearly 3 crore voters and was arbitrary and unconstitutional.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, A M Singhvi, and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioners, raised serious concerns about the timing of the exercise, arguing that conducting a major revision ahead of Assembly elections in October–November 2025 could affect democratic participation. They contended that the EC had no jurisdiction to initiate such a large-scale revision under the Representation of People Act.
However, the top court rejected their argument that the EC lacked legal authority, noting that the SIR was constitutionally and statutorily mandated. “The matter goes to the root of democracy and the power to vote,” the Bench observed, adding that while the process could go ahead, it deserved further judicial scrutiny.
Justice Dhulia observed, “If you are to check citizenship under SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, then you should have acted early; it is a bit late now.”
The EC, represented by senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi, defended the SIR, saying it was aimed at ensuring an accurate voters’ list by removing names of deceased persons, illegal immigrants, and duplications due to migration. “We are giving every individual an opportunity to be heard. Nobody will be left out arbitrarily,” Dwivedi told the court.
The EC also clarified that individuals can submit documents any time before July 25 and will still have a chance during the claims and objections period.
The Supreme Court directed the EC to respond to the petitions within one week, and allowed petitioners to file rejoinders, if any, by July 28 — the next date of hearing.
