Bihar SIR: NGO counters EC's refusal to accept Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration card as standalone proof

The Association for Democratic Rights has countered the Election Commission of India's refusal to accept Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration card as valid standalone proof for inclusion in the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision. The NGO argued that any of the 11 documents accepted for SIR verification are susceptible to falsification, making the EC's rationale baseless and arbitrary. The NGO also pointed out that a large portion of the population in Bihar already possesses one or more of the 11 documents.

The Association for Democratic Rights (ADR) has filed a counter affidavit in response to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) refusal to accept Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration card as standalone proof for inclusion in the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. The NGO argues that the ECI's rationale for rejecting these documents is baseless and arbitrary, as any of the 11 documents accepted for SIR verification are equally susceptible to falsification [1].

The ADR, represented by advocates Prashant Bhushan and Neha Rathi, contends that the ECI's claim that these documents can easily be faked is unfounded. They point out that the same documents are used to obtain other eligibility certificates, such as residence and caste certificates, which are also prone to fraud. The NGO also highlights that a large portion of the population in Bihar already possesses one or more of the 11 documents, making the EC's refusal to accept them as proof patently absurd [1].

The EC, in its counter affidavit, claimed plenary powers to conduct the SIR, the authority to determine citizenship, and that a large portion of the population already possessed one or more of the 11 documents. However, the ADR countered these claims, stating that no political party had asked for a de novo exercise such as the one prescribed in the SIR order. The NGO also expressed concern that people whose names are not found in the draft electoral roll will not have enough time to file appeals, prove their citizenship, and get re-enrolled in time for the Bihar Assembly election, likely to be held in November [1].

The ongoing SIR of voters' list in Bihar has created a political row, with the opposition alleging that the move aims to delete a large number of voters. The EC has reported that 99.8% of electors were covered, but nearly 60.5 lakh names are set for deletion due to various reasons, including untraceable forms, dead electors, and migrants. The Chief Election Commissioner has raised concerns over the presence of foreign nationals on electoral rolls [3].

The EC's decision to conduct the SIR is currently under review by the Supreme Court, which will hold a key hearing on July 28. The apex court's view on the matter will be closely watched, as it could offer critical fuel to the ECI's national SIR mission or dampen it. The ongoing SIR in Bihar has also sparked debates over the need for nationwide citizenship verification of electors [3].

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/elections/bihar-assembly/any-of-the-11-documents-accepted-for-sir-verification-are-susceptible-to-falsification-petitioner-counters-ec-in-apex-court/article69858152.ece
[2] https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/ec-will-decide-sir-of-electoral-rolls-in-bengal-wb-chief-electoral-officer-125072501718_1.html
[3] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/bihar-sir-phase-1-99-8-electors-covered-60-5-lakh-face-deletion/articleshow/122911184.cms