SC nudge to EC boosts hopes for inclusive Bihar polls with Aadhaar, Voter ID and ration card as valid proofs
The democracy is a fragile political framework and needs to be safeguarded with fervour. As it is often said, ‘democracy dies in darkness,’ the challenges to democracy can come from different quarters, often from the constitutional institutions themselves. What was turning into a political battle in Bihar has now been interrupted by the intervention of the Supreme Court. This is how the Constitution had intended the Supreme Court to be — a saviour of democracy.
In a prelude to the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar, the revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission (EC) has triggered a major controversy, with the Opposition alleging that the process being followed is opaque and exclusionary. The Congress and RJD alleged that the process risked disenfranchising a significant number of voters, particularly those from marginalised and rural communities, due to a lack of clarity around acceptable documentation and limited avenues for verification.
It all began with the Election Commission’s decision to revise the voter lists and ask voters to furnish identity proofs if they were not in the 2003 voter lists. What added to woes of the people was that the generally accepted Government ids like Aadhar, ration card etc. were not acceptable.
This meant mass deletions of voters, as most people in villages and marginalised communities did not have those documents. Now, with the Supreme Court weighing in and offering clear guidance on permissible documents for voter verification, the issue appears to be heading toward resolution, though the final verdict is yet to come. Seeking judicial intervention, petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the EC’s methodology.
The core contention was that the exclusion of key identity documents — such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and even existing voter IDs — from the verification process was arbitrary and in violation of citizens’ democratic rights. The unilateral manner in which the EC was operating raised serious concerns of disenfranchise a huge chunk of population. However, in a recent hearing, the Supreme Court opined that the Election Commission include Aadhaar, voter ID cards, and ration cards as part of the enumeration and verification process. While the Court stopped short of issuing a formal directive, its suggestion carries weight and is expected to influence the EC’s final approach.
The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 28, by which time the EC has to file its response. While the larger constitutional questions remain pending, the SC’s interim suggestion already marks a significant course correction. It ensures that the electoral process in Bihar remains participatory, inclusive, and constitutionally sound.
The ball is now in the EC’s court. It is expected that the poll panel will align its voter verification process with the Supreme Court’s guidance. This is especially crucial in a state known for its caste complexities, migrant population, and economic vulnerabilities. While the controversy has not yet fully subsided, the SC’s intervention has underscored the critical importance of transparent and inclusive electoral processes in safeguarding the democratic rights of marginalised people.
