Is Aadhar Really Just Proof of Identity and Not Citizenship? EC Counsel Clarifies SC Order on Bihar ‘SIR’
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Synopsis
The Supreme Court’s recent directive to the Election Commission regarding Aadhar's role in voter verification has sparked significant discussion. While recognized as a vital identity document, the court has clarified that it cannot be considered proof of citizenship. This development is crucial as Bihar prepares for its upcoming elections.
Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court has accepted Aadhar as a valid document for voter verification in Bihar.
- Despite its inclusion, Aadhar cannot serve as proof of citizenship.
- The Election Commission retains the authority to verify the citizenship of voters.
- The decision comes amid significant scrutiny of the voter verification process ahead of state elections.
- Over 99.6% of voters have submitted their documents for verification.
New Delhi, Sept 8 (NationPress) The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to recognize the Aadhar card as the 12th document in the designated list for executing the voter verification initiative in Bihar, emphasizing its role as a valid form of identity proof.
Elaborating on the Supreme Court’s remarks regarding Special Intensive Revision (SIR), EC counsel Rakesh Dwidevi noted that numerous petitioners presented arguments for including Aadhar in the verification process; nonetheless, the SC clarified that while Aadhar cards will be accepted for the SIR, they cannot be regarded as proof of citizenship.
The verbal directive issued this morning by the bench comprising SC judges Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi dismissed a plea to exclude petitioners concerning Aadhar due to the significant time elapsed since the draft electoral rolls were published, with over 99.6% of the 7.24 crore voters having already submitted their documents.
Senior lawyer Rakesh Dwidevi further elaborated that the Supreme Court concurred with the EC’s stance that it retains the authority to scrutinize the citizenship status of residents to uphold ‘clean and pure’ electoral rolls, asserting that Aadhar cannot replace documents verifying citizenship.
The apex court also mandated that the EC must authenticate the legitimacy of Aadhar numbers provided, ensuring that individuals with falsified or fraudulent entries are not accepted.
The recent comments from the court regarding Aadhar's role in the SIR initiative arise amidst a series of petitions filed in the Supreme Court contesting the Election Commission's SIR/verification initiative in Bihar, ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Significantly, the Aadhar card was not included among the 11 documents specified by the election panel for the voter verification process in the election-bound state. Various petitioners expressed their discontent over the omission of Aadhar, which is one of the most widely used government identification forms, from the list of acceptable documents.
Point of View
It's vital to inform our audience that the Supreme Court's decision to include Aadhar in the voter verification process underlines the balance between facilitating voter identification and upholding the integrity of citizenship verification. It reflects the ongoing discourse on the intersection of technology and governance in India.
NationPress
08/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Aadhar included as a document for voter verification?
Aadhar was included to facilitate the voter verification process in Bihar, providing a widely recognized form of identity proof.
Can Aadhar be used as proof of citizenship?
No, the Supreme Court clarified that Aadhar cannot serve as evidence of citizenship, despite being an important identity document.
What was the Election Commission's stance on Aadhar?
The Election Commission maintains the right to examine citizenship while ensuring clean electoral rolls, emphasizing that Aadhar alone cannot verify citizenship.
What led to the Supreme Court's recent ruling?
The ruling followed multiple petitions challenging the Election Commission’s voter verification drive in Bihar, leading to discussions on Aadhar's role.
How does this ruling impact the upcoming Bihar elections?
This ruling could streamline the verification process for voters in Bihar while clarifying the legal limitations of Aadhar in establishing citizenship.
