The Supreme Court of India has ruled that Aadhaar must be accepted as valid proof of identity for the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar. The decision, delivered by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, adds Aadhaar as the twelfth accepted document for voter verification ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
The Court directed the Election Commission (EC) to accept Aadhaar as proof of identity for inclusion or exclusion of individuals in the electoral roll during the Bihar voter revision exercise. The ruling overturned the Election Commission’s objection, which had argued against accepting Aadhaar citing that 99.6 percent of voters had already submitted documents and expressing concerns about forgery risks. The decision comes as Bihar implements new digital voting initiatives, including the state’s pioneering blockchain-based mobile e-voting system.
In its decision, the Court emphasized a clear legal distinction between identity and citizenship, stating that while Aadhaar can establish identity, it cannot be used as proof of citizenship for voter registration. The ruling specified that election officials may verify the genuineness of Aadhaar cards submitted by voters to prevent misuse or forgery. The decision supports recent efforts by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to enhance Aadhaar security through advanced authentication methods, including AI-powered facial recognition.
The bench underscored that the electoral roll should include only genuine citizens, warning that those using forged documents, including fake Aadhaar cards, would face exclusion. The Court instructed the Election Commission to promptly issue necessary directions to implement this ruling during the Bihar SIR process. The directive complements the EC’s broader digital modernization initiatives, which include the implementation of unique voter IDs and enhanced verification systems.
The opposition Congress party responded to the ruling by criticizing the Election Commission’s earlier resistance to the Supreme Court directive. “Make no mistake, we are fighting an election against the ruling regime and despite the ECI,” said Congress spokesperson Ramesh. “This CEC and the institution he heads shall not be forgiven by history.”
The ruling represents a significant clarification of Aadhaar’s legal status in electoral processes, establishing a framework that balances identity verification requirements with citizenship verification safeguards. The development follows the Election Commission’s recent implementation of the e-EPIC digital voter ID system, demonstrating India’s ongoing efforts to modernize its electoral infrastructure while maintaining security and authenticity.
Sources: NDTV, The New Indian Express, Hindu Post, Economic Times, India Today
