Supreme Court Allows Bihar Voters To Use Aadhaar To Reclaim Deleted Names From Rolls

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that Bihar voters challenging their exclusion from the electoral rolls ahead of elections later this year may use Aadhaar cards as valid proof of residence. The court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to include Aadhaar in the list of 11 documents already permitted for re-inclusion.

According to court estimates, nearly 65 lakh voters were deleted from the rolls. After accounting for deceased and duplicate entries, the number of voters eligible for re-inclusion was pegged at around 35 lakh. The court emphasized urgency in the matter, instructing that all required documents be submitted before September 1. Justice Surya Kant clarified that the filing process could also be completed online, with Justice Joymalya Bagchi concurring.

According to a report by NDTV the order came during a hearing on petitions challenging the "special intensive revision" of the voter list in Bihar. The court said applications for reinstatement could be submitted using any of the previously accepted documents or Aadhaar.

The bench also issued sharp criticism of political parties in Bihar, questioning why they had not stepped in to help the lakhs of voters removed from the rolls, particularly since many parties had argued the revision exercise was designed to disenfranchise certain communities. "Political parties are not doing their jobs," the court remarked, noting that objections had been filed by individual MPs and MLAs rather than by the parties themselves.

The court expressed surprise that over 1.6 lakh booth-level agents (BLAs) appointed by parties had filed only two objections to exclusions. "What are your BLAs doing? Political parties must help voters," the bench observed. It also addressed complaints that some officials had refused to acknowledge objections raised by BLAs, directing that receipts be provided whenever forms are submitted.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing one of the petitioners, argued that the issue extended beyond the 65 lakh excluded voters. Responding, the bench questioned the lack of political engagement, asking, "Why is there such a distance from the people?"

During the hearing, the Election Commission explained that BLAs were allowed to file 10 enumeration forms per day on behalf of excluded voters, but individual voters had shown more initiative in challenging deletions compared to political parties. The ECI also confirmed that no party had submitted objections in writing. "Voters are more conscious than political parties!" the court remarked, before impleading the parties concerned and posting the case for further hearing on September 8.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the poll panel, requested that the court grant the ECI 15 more days to prove that no wrongful exclusions had taken place. "Political parties are making hue and cry... things are not bad," he argued. "Repose faith in the Election Commission and give us more time. We will show you there are no exclusions."

The ECI informed the court that approximately 85,000 excluded voters had already applied for re-inclusion, while more than two lakh new voters had registered themselves in the latest revision process.