Amid intense controversy over Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the UIDAI chief clarified that Aadhaar is not the primary identity, responding directly to concerns raised by leaders like Tejashwi Yadav. According to India Today the tension has intensified as the INDIA bloc accuses the Election Commission of disenfranchising millions through stringent document requirements and selective enforcement.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had earlier criticised the EC for excluding Aadhaar, MNREGA job cards, and ration cards from the list of acceptable documents during door-to-door enumeration. He argued that the SIR safeguards only voter rights for the privileged, while marginalised communities risk exclusion if they cannot produce rare documentation. He also demanded the exercise be paused until after the Bihar Assembly elections. Meanwhile, the EC has upheld that Aadhaar and PAN are not valid proof of birth, residence, or citizenship. The UIDAI chief reaffirmed this position, stating Aadhaar is an individual identifier—not a first identity—and must be complemented by other valid documents when citizenship is in question. During a press briefing, he explained that exclusion of Aadhaar is consistent with constitutional and biometric data norms.
Opposition Demands SIR Be Put on Hold
Tejashwi Yadav, accompanied by INDIA bloc partners, reiterated demands to the Election Commission to suspend the revision and allow more time for public compliance. He pointed to conflicting EC advertisements that threaten confusion: one suggests enumeration forms can be submitted without documents; the other insists on attachments before the July 25 deadline. The shifting numbers—rising from 1 lakh volunteers in initial circulars to over four lakh in later ones—also raised suspicion about process transparency.
Legal Challenge: Supreme Court to Hear Petitions on July 10
Petitions filed by RJD MP Manoj Jha, activist Yogendra Yadav, Mahua Moitra, and others argue that the SIR undermines constitutional voting rights. The Supreme Court has scheduled hearings for July 10 to assess whether the EC’s documentation demands are fair amid poor migrant voter inclusion, and whether Aadhaar’s exclusion is justified under law.
EC Reports Massive Outreach Despite Complaints
According to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the SIR exercise has reached nearly 47% completion, with over 3.7 crore enumeration forms submitted. The EC has deployed 20,600 additional BLOs and engaged about four lakh volunteers, including NCC cadets and NSS members, to assist citizens across Bihar. The EC emphasises that all citizens who submit the pre-printed enumeration form will automatically appear in the draft voter list published on August 1. Inclusion can only be reversed through official objection and appeal.
Critics Highlight Discriminatory Outcomes
Opposition leaders such as Tejashwi Yadav and Digvijaya Singh have condemned the process as politically motivated disenfranchisement. Yadav warned that vulnerable communities—Dalits, migrants, the rural poor—face greater risk due to lack of prescribed documents. Digvijaya Singh described the SIR exercise as “grossly unjust” and “impractical,” lamenting its timing during monsoon season when logistics are toughest. Farooq Abdullah also criticised the EC’s move as unconstitutional and hinted at mass agitation if the process continues unchecked.
Investigative Reports Question SIR Justification
Independent reporting has raised critical questions: Bihar’s electoral rolls had already undergone a Special Summary Revision completed in January 2025. Data from that exercise showed no statewide anomalies to warrant a total overhaul. Critics argue the sudden SIR was unnecessary and disruptive, especially given that up-to-date voter lists had been regularly maintained until weeks before the EC’s June 24 directive.
Looking Ahead
With the Supreme Court set to hear petitions, political pressure mounting, and legal scrutiny intensifying, the future of Bihar’s electoral roll revision hangs in balance. Can the Election Commission justify the exclusion of ubiquitous documents like Aadhaar and MNREGA cards without alienating large voter blocs? Will the SIR be paused or altered before the upcoming elections? In a high-stakes showdown between electoral integrity and political suspicion, the answers will shape Bihar’s democracy—and possibly set precedents for future revisions across India.
Photo Credit: India Today
For more trending stories click here
Follow us for latest updates:
