The Supreme Court on Monday warned the Election Commission of India (ECI) that it would set aside the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar if any illegality is found in the methodology adopted. The court has fixed October 7 as the date for the final hearing, clarifying that its verdict would apply pan-India.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that while it presumes the poll body, being a constitutional authority, would act within the law, strict adherence to rules is mandatory. The court also declined to modify its September 8 directive that included Aadhaar card as the 12th accepted document for voter verification in Bihar’s SIR drive.
During the hearing, the bench noted that Aadhaar is not “alien” to the Representation of People Act and can be used for identity purposes subject to authenticity checks. It further directed the Election Commission to treat Aadhaar cards like any other prescribed document while revising voter rolls.