‘Will scrap Bihar SIR exercise if…’: Supreme Court’s tough message to EC, says verdict will apply pan-India

Assuming the ECI adhered to legal protocols, the top court stated that the exercise would be void if constitutional safeguards were breached

The Supreme Court stated on Monday that it would cancel the entire special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls exercise in poll-bound Bihar in case it finds any illegality in the methodology adopted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also fixed October 7 for hearing final arguments on validity of Bihar SIR.

Assuming the ECI adhered to legal protocols, the top court stated that the exercise would be void if constitutional safeguards were breached.

"Our judgement in Bihar SIR will be applicable for pan-India SIR," the bench remarked. The top court also refused to give any piecemeal opinion on the issue.

It issued a notice regarding a plea that seeks to recall its September 8 order, which directed the Election Commission to include the Aadhaar card as the 12th prescribed document in the Bihar SIR.

On September 8, the apex court clarified Aadhaar will not be proof of citizenship and the poll panel can ascertain its genuineness on being submitted by an elector for inclusion in the electoral roll.

“Aadhaar card issued under Aadhaar Act 2016 shall be accepted for the purpose of establishing identity of the exclusion or inclusion being carried out in the revised electoral list process and that it shall be treated as the 12th document," a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said, as reported by Bar and Bench.

It stated that authorities would be entitled to verify the authenticity and genuineness of the Aadhaar card of voters.

Following the order, the poll body asked its Bihar poll machinery to accept Aadhaar card as an additional document to establish the identity of electors.

In a letter to the state Chief Electoral Officer, the Commission said, "The Aadhaar card shall be treated as the 12th document, in addition to the 11 documents listed..."

(With PTI inputs)