NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday backed the view that Aadhaar cannot be accepted as conclusive proof of residence in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, argued that despite residents holding Aadhaar, ration and EPIC cards, officials were “not accepting it” as proof of anything. Justice Kant said such documents could “bonafide show you’re resident of that area”, as quoted by LiveLaw.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi heard senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing RJD leader Manoj Jha, who alleged discrepancies — including people listed as dead being found alive, and vice versa.
Justice Kant said it was a “very sweeping argument” to suggest no one in Bihar possessed valid documents, noting Aadhaar and ration cards existed but could not be treated as definitive proof.
Appearing for the EC, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi said an exercise of this nature was “bound to have some defects”, but errors could be corrected before the final roll is published on 30 September. Opposition leaders and civil society groups have petitioned against the EC’s June 24 decision.
On July 29, the top court warned it would step in immediately if there was “mass exclusion” of voters. The draft roll was published on August 1, with the final version due on September 30. Opposition parties claim the process could disenfranchise crores of eligible voters.
The pleas have been jointly filed by leaders from RJD, Trinamool Congress, Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), CPI, SP, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), JMM, CPI (ML), along with PUCL, ADR and activist Yogendra Yadav, challenging the EC’s June 24 decision.
Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, argued that despite residents holding Aadhaar, ration and EPIC cards, officials were “not accepting it” as proof of anything. Justice Kant said such documents could “bonafide show you’re resident of that area”, as quoted by LiveLaw.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi heard senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing RJD leader Manoj Jha, who alleged discrepancies — including people listed as dead being found alive, and vice versa.
Justice Kant said it was a “very sweeping argument” to suggest no one in Bihar possessed valid documents, noting Aadhaar and ration cards existed but could not be treated as definitive proof.
Appearing for the EC, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi said an exercise of this nature was “bound to have some defects”, but errors could be corrected before the final roll is published on 30 September. Opposition leaders and civil society groups have petitioned against the EC’s June 24 decision.
On July 29, the top court warned it would step in immediately if there was “mass exclusion” of voters. The draft roll was published on August 1, with the final version due on September 30. Opposition parties claim the process could disenfranchise crores of eligible voters.
The pleas have been jointly filed by leaders from RJD, Trinamool Congress, Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), CPI, SP, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), JMM, CPI (ML), along with PUCL, ADR and activist Yogendra Yadav, challenging the EC’s June 24 decision.
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