SC allows Aadhaar for Bihar voter re-inclusion, slams parties for ignoring 65 lakh deleted names
Direction came as top court asked EC to add Aadhaar to list of 11 other accepted identity documents
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Friday permitted voters in Bihar, who were removed from the electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming elections, to use their Aadhaar card as valid proof of residence for re-inclusion. The direction came as the top court asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to add Aadhaar to the list of 11 other accepted identity documents.
The Bench, headed by Justice Surya Kant and also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, estimated that nearly 35 lakh voters remained excluded after accounting for duplicate entries and deceased persons. The judges directed that all applications and supporting documents for re-enrolment must be submitted by September 1, adding that the process could also be completed online.
During the hearing on petitions challenging the special intensive revision of Bihar’s voter list, the Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure at political parties for failing to support the large number of voters whose names had been struck off.
“Political parties are not doing their jobs,” the court remarked, pointing out that objections were largely filed by individual MPs and MLAs rather than the parties themselves. “We are surprised at what political parties are doing in Bihar. What are your BLAs (booth-level agents) doing? Political parties must help voters.”
Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing one of the petitioners, underlined that the issue was bigger than just 65 lakh deletions. However, the Bench reiterated its concern, asking why there remained “a distance between people and parties” despite BLAs being appointed for such tasks.
The Election Commission informed the court that each BLA is authorised to submit up to 10 enumeration forms daily on behalf of voters. Yet, it was individuals, not political organisations, who had shown greater initiative. “Voters are more conscious than political parties!” the court observed.
Seeking more time, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the poll body, urged the court to allow 15 days to prove that wrongful exclusions had not taken place. “Political parties are making a hue and cry… things are not bad. Repose faith in the Election Commission and give us more time,” he said.
The ECI also disclosed that nearly 85,000 voters whose names were struck off in the draft rolls had already applied for re-inclusion, while over two lakh new electors had registered themselves. The matter will be heard again on September 8.