Supreme Court Directs Election Commission to Accept Aadhaar as Voter ID in Bihar

Supreme Court's Directive on Voter Identification

On Monday, the Supreme Court instructed the Election Commission (EC) to recognize Aadhaar as the twelfth valid document for identity verification during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar. Currently, the SIR process in Bihar allows voters to submit identification proof from 11 different types along with their registration forms. The Election Commission has now made a significant decision regarding Aadhaar.

The Election Commission has communicated to the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar that following the Supreme Court's directives, Aadhaar should be accepted as an additional document for establishing voter identity. In a letter sent to the Chief Electoral Officer on Tuesday, the Commission stated, 'In addition to the listed 11 documents, Aadhaar will be considered as the 12th document...'.

The Commission clarified that Aadhaar should be accepted as proof of identity according to Section 9 of the Aadhaar (Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits, and Services) Act, and it should not be used as proof of citizenship.

Under Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, Aadhaar is already listed as one of the documents for establishing an individual's identity. The Commission also warned that any refusal to accept Aadhaar as per this directive will be taken very seriously.

The Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission on Monday to include Aadhaar as the twelfth prescribed document for ensuring voter identity in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, with a deadline for implementation set for September 9.