The Election Commission (EC) has firmly declined the Supreme Court’s suggestion to include Aadhaar, voter ID (EPIC), and ration cards as eligible documents in its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls, opting instead to rely on its prescribed list of 11 documents to verify citizenship.

In a counter-affidavit filed on July 21, the EC asserted its constitutional authority under Articles 324 and 326 to determine voter eligibility. It emphasized that Aadhaar is proof of identity — not citizenship — and pointed to rampant fake ration cards (over 5 crore identified) as undermining reliability. It also noted that an existing voter card only confirms register status, not antecedent eligibility.

The Special Intensive Revision, launched June 24, affects all 7.8 crore registered Bihar voters, requiring fresh forms by July 25, and demands additional documents for those added post-2003. The EC stated that failing to register under SIR won’t remove a person’s citizenship.

The Supreme Court will hear the matter again on July 28. Earlier, on July 10, it had refused to pause SIR but urged the EC to “consider” accepting the three documents, if reasons were provided.