'Aadhar Not Proof Of Citizenship, Bogus Ration Cards': What Election Commission Told Supreme Court On Bihar Electoral Rolls

The Election Commission (EC) has rejected the Supreme Court's proposal to consider Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards as proof for its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

In the 10 July hearing, the Supreme Court had expressed concerns over the SIR and recommended that the EC also take into account Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards when updating the rolls.

However, in its counter-affidavit filed on Monday (21 July), the EC pointed out that Aadhar is neither included in the list of 11 documents provided in the enumeration form, nor does it constitute proof of citizenship.

The EC asserted that it is the Commission's constitutional authority to determine if electors meet the citizenship requirement. However, it clarified that an individual's citizenship would not be revoked if they were deemed ineligible as an elector.

The EC has fulfilled its requirement of filing the counter-affidavit by 21 July. The next hearing in the case is now scheduled for 28 July, the Indian Express reported.

However, EC noted that Aadhaar can be used to supplement other documents to prove eligibility. The Election Commission's enumeration form is pre-printed with the voters' EPIC number and also includes a column for the optional Aadhaar details.

The EC also pointed out the “widespread issuance of bogus ration cards”. Despite the aid of Aadhaar-seeding, the problem continues to exist. The Commission referred to a government press release from 7 March, stating that the central government has eliminated more than 50 million counterfeit ration card holders.

On voters’ cards, the EC was quoted as saying, “…the EPIC (electors' photo identity card), by its very nature, merely reflects the current state of the electoral roll and cannot, in itself, establish antecedent eligibility for inclusion in the roll.”

The Election Commission emphasised again that the roster of 11 documents was suggestive and not comprehensive, meaning that the Electoral Registration Officers have the discretion to review any documents submitted by voters.