The Supreme Court on Thursday urged the Election Commission of
India (ECI) to consider accepting Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and EPIC
(electoral photo identity) cards as valid documents to prove voter identity in
the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in .
A Bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi
declined to stay the revision process but questioned the ECI’s decision to
exclude Aadhaar as identity proof. Although no interim relief was granted, the
apex court made it clear that if the ECI chooses not to accept Aadhaar, EPIC,
or ration cards, it must explain the reasons.
“After
going through the documents, ECI has pointed out that the list of
documents for verification of voters include 11 documents and is not
exhaustive. Thus, in our opinion, it would be in the interest of justice if
Aadhaar card, EPIC card and ration card be included. It is for the ECI to still
decide whether it wants to take the documents or not. If it does not take the
documents, (it has to) give reasons for the same and the same shall satisfy the
petitioners,” the top court said.
The top
court was hearing petitions filed by opposition leaders and NGOs challenging
the ECI’s June 24 directive initiating the SIR ahead of the Bihar Assembly
elections in November. It noted the tight timeline and issued a notice to the
ECI, seeking its reply by July 21.
The matter will next be heard on July 28.