'Why Allow Mass Exclusions & Not Mass Inclusions?': SC Asks ECI To Include Aadhaar, EPIC In Bihar Voter Roll Revision

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday, while hearing a petition challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, questioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its refusal to accept Aadhaar and the Voter ID Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) as valid documents in the ongoing voter list revision in the state, reported India Today.

The apex court observed that any document can be forged and emphasised the need for a robust verification system.

A bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed concern over the ECI’s exclusionary approach and underscored the importance of including both Aadhaar and EPIC in the verification process.

"Any document on earth can be forged," Justice Suryakant remarked, urging the poll body to explain why Aadhaar and EPIC were not being fully accepted, especially when Aadhaar is already requested in the registration form.

In an earlier hearing on 10 July, the Supreme Court had asked the ECI to consider accepting documents such as Aadhaar, Voter ID, and Ration Cards for verification.

During Monday's hearing, the ECI argued that Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship and raised concerns about fake ration cards, stating that widespread forgery makes it difficult to rely on such documents.

The bench countered, asking, “If tomorrow even the other ten documents you’ve accepted are found to be forged, what mechanism is in place to prevent that? Why allow mass exclusions instead of mass inclusions?”

The Court also directed the ECI to provide a clear timeline for the process in cases where individuals are excluded from the electoral roll.

SC asked the counsels to submit a timeline for their arguments and said it will decide the hearing schedule tomorrow. (July 29)

What Is Special intensive Revision (SIR)?

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a large-scale exercise by the Election Commission to verify and update voter lists. Unlike routine updates, it requires all voters to re-submit their details and often provide documents proving their identity, age, and residence. Only citizens aged 18 and above, who have lived in the state for over seven years, are eligible.The final roll would be published on September 30, 2025.