Why in News?

• The Supreme Court of India declined to stay the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which is scheduled ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
• Amid concerns raised by petitioners over the timing and process of the electoral roll revision, the Court urged the ECI to consider Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards for verification purposes and scheduled a detailed hearing for July 28.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Background - Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar
• Supreme Court Proceedings and Key Observations
• Accessibility of Suggested Documents in Bihar
• Election Commission's Position and Defence
• Conclusion

Background - Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar:

• SIR involves a de novo/ afresh preparation of electoral rolls through house-to-house verification by electoral registration officers.
• Applicability in Bihar:
  • Those listed on the 2003 electoral rolls need only submit an extract from that roll.
  • Those enrolled after 2003 must submit one or more of 11 prescribed documents and a pre-filled enumeration form to establish birthplace and date, indirectly serving as a citizenship determination process.

Supreme Court Proceedings and Key Observations:

• Major concerns raised:
  • Timing of revision:
    • Petitioners argued that the electoral roll revision is timed too close to the November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
    • Demanded delinking of the revision exercise from the election process.
  • Document exclusion:
    • Objection to exclusion of Aadhaar from the accepted list of identity/citizenship documents.
    • Concerns of citizenship screening under the guise of voter verification.
  • Risk of voter disenfranchisement:
    • Petitioners warned that lack of accepted documentation could exclude genuine voters (particularly marginalized groups like EBCs, Dalits, minorities, and women).
    • A Bihar government survey reportedly revealed most voters did not possess the required certificates sought by ECI.
• Supreme Court’s stand and directions:
• No interim stay: Court allowed ECI to proceed with SIR but reserved right to intervene if violations are proven.
• Document suggestion: SC urged ECI to consider Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards—though left the final decision to the Commission.
• Rationale for transparency: ECI was directed to provide reasons if it chooses to exclude these documents.
• Three key legal questions identified by SC:
  • Powers of the Election Commission under the Constitution.
  • Procedure and methodology of SIR being adopted.
  • Timing of the revision vis-à-vis the upcoming election.

Accessibility of Suggested Documents in Bihar:

• Aadhaar card:
  • Aadhaar is available to over 88% of Bihar’s population (approx. 11.48 crore people).
  • Saturation level (eligible people with Aadhaar) stands at 94% across the state.
  • Some districts like Kishanganj and Katihar show saturation above 120%, indicating coverage exceeding projections.
  • Adult coverage (18+ years): 70.29% of total Aadhaar holders.
• Voter ID (EPIC card):
  • Issued compulsorily to all enrolled electors.
  • Bihar has 7.89 crore registered voters, almost all of whom hold a Voter ID.
  • Used presently only for identification, not for eligibility verification.
• Ration cards:
  • Cover about two-thirds of Bihar’s population.
  • 1.79 crore ration cards cover around 8.71 crore beneficiaries (as of July 10, 2025).
  • Easily accessible to low-income and marginalized groups, including EBCs and minorities.

Election Commission's Position and Defence:

• Key submissions by ECI:
  • The list of 11 documents is not exhaustive, and room for additions exists.
  • Aadhaar is not conclusive for citizenship, hence not mandatory.
  • Extensive public outreach ongoing via:
    • Mobile notifications to over 7.89 crore electors.
    • House-to-house verification and real-time monitoring via ECINET.
• Rebuttal to citizenship allegations:
  • ECI claimed that it has no intent to remove voters arbitrarily.
  • Exclusion will happen only if required by law and supported by evidence.

Conclusion:

• The Supreme Court has upheld the ECI’s constitutional autonomy in revising electoral rolls but emphasized accountability and transparency.
• The July 28 hearing is expected to address the legal validity, procedural fairness, and timing concerns of the SIR process ahead of Bihar’s crucial elections.
• It will also try to balance documentary rigor with universal suffrage, underlining the importance of institutional accountability and voter inclusion in India’s electoral democracy.