In a recent directive, the Supreme Court has instructed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept Aadhaar as a valid proof of identity for voters, specifically in the context of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. This decision came amidst concerns that ECI officials were not uniformly accepting Aadhaar as a sufficient document for voter registration. The court's order clarifies that while Aadhaar can be used to establish identity, it cannot be considered proof of citizenship.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, issued the directive on Monday, during a hearing of petitions filed by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other parties. These petitions argued that the ECI was not adhering to previous court orders regarding the acceptance of Aadhaar. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the RJD, emphasized that Aadhaar is a universally recognized document.

Prior to the Supreme Court's intervention, the ECI had listed 11 documents that could be used for voter registration during the revision process. The Supreme Court's direction effectively adds Aadhaar as the 12th acceptable document. The court made it clear that ECI officials are entitled to verify the authenticity and genuineness of Aadhaar cards, similar to how they would verify any other document. This verification process ensures that only eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls.

The ECI, represented by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, assured the court that it would issue a circular instructing its officials to accept Aadhaar as a proof of identity. Justice Surya Kant noted that while documents like Aadhaar and passports can be forged, the ECI has the authority to verify their legitimacy. The Supreme Court's ruling underscores that Aadhaar, under the Aadhaar Act, is a valid identity document but not a proof of citizenship. The final electoral roll for Bihar is expected by September 30th.

This decision comes after previous observations by the Supreme Court, including an August 12th statement that the ECI is correct in asserting that Aadhaar is not conclusive proof of citizenship. Earlier, on July 10th, the court had suggested that the ECI consider Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards for the SIR, as they are foundational documents for obtaining other required documents. The Supreme Court's recent order aims to streamline the voter registration process by explicitly allowing Aadhaar as a standalone identity document.