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Bihar Voter List Revision SIR: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Election Commission to consider including the Aadhaar card and the Electoral Photo Identity Card as valid documents to prove the identity of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar.

The Supreme Court also asked the parties involved to specify the time they would need to present their arguments. The next date of hearing will be informed tomorrow.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has defended its SIR process, clarifying that the draft voter list released on August 1 is not final, and that voters and political parties have until September 1 to file claims and objections.

The Commission expressed confusion over the backlash, emphasizing that the revision process is still underway and provides ample opportunity to correct any errors.

Bihar Voter List Revision: Key Updates

- The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Election Commission to consider including the Aadhaar card and the Electoral Photo Identity Card as valid documents to prove the identity of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar.

- The Supreme Court also asked the parties involved to specify the time they would need to present their arguments. The next date of hearing will be informed tomorrow.

- SC says it will hear pleas against Election Commission of India's SIR in Bihar finally, fix time schedule on July 29.

- SC refuses to pass order on interim stay on publication of draft electoral roll in Bihar, says it will decide matter finally.

- SC asks ECI to continue accepting Aadhaar and voter ID for SIR exercise in Bihar in compliance with earlier order.

- Aadhaar, voter ID carry presumption of genuineness; forgery of such docs can be dealt with on case to case basis: SC.

- The Supreme Court was set to hear the matter on Monday, following ADR’s submission and growing criticism from civil society and political parties.

- Petitioners argue that the SIR could result in the widespread removal of eligible voters.

- Leaders of the INDIA bloc will stage a protest at Parliament’s Makar Dwar on Monday morning. Earlier, several MPs had submitted notices in the Rajya Sabha demanding a debate on the matter.

- Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, wrote to 35 political parties, including NDA allies, expressing concern over the process. He accused the ECI of threatening democratic integrity by allegedly disenfranchising large numbers of people. He also questioned why Aadhaar was not accepted as a valid document for the enumeration process.

- According to the ECI, the SIR exercise saw a 91.69 per cent participation rate, with over 7.24 crore voters submitting enumeration forms out of 7.89 crore total electors in Bihar. The revision included house-to-house verification, where Booth Level Officers (BLOs) distributed semi-filled forms to voters. These forms could also be downloaded online and around 29 lakh were accessed digitally, with over 16 lakh submitted electronically.

- Opposition parties claim that the SIR may be used to disenfranchise voters likely to oppose the ruling BJP, alleging misuse of state machinery.

- The ECI maintains that it is fulfilling its constitutional duty by removing names of those who are deceased, have migrated, or are registered in multiple locations.

- The Commission has assured that no deletions will occur without due process, and that there is a full month-long window for objections following the draft’s release.

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- Petitioners contend that many voters are being excluded due to the lack of valid documents.

- The Supreme Court instructed the ECI to consider three key documents for the SIR: Aadhaar, Voter ID (EPIC), and ration cards

- The Court noted these are foundational documents often used to acquire others such as caste or residence certificates, which the ECI has listed for voter verification.

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- The ECI, however, argued that Aadhaar, EPIC, and ration cards can be easily forged.

- At a joint press conference with RJD, CPI(ML) Liberation, and CPM leaders, Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticized the process, likening it to a citizenship test and questioning its legality. He appealed to the ECI to reconsider its approach.