ECI's Bihar conundrum

The Supreme Court's suggestion to include Aadhaar, EPIC, and ration card as valid proofs of identity for electoral roll offers a way out

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The right to vote and the freedom to exercise it are essential features of a successful electoral democracy. These are also prerequisites to ensure that the outcome of elections reflects the popular mandate. It is the responsibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure the sanctity of the electoral process, which also means that no Indian citizen who is eligible to vote is excluded from the electoral roll, or a non-citizen subverts the process by acquiring voting rights. It is for this purpose that ECI periodically updates the electoral roll ahead of elections. However, in Bihar, where assembly elections are due soon, its Special Intensive Revision process to make a foolproof electoral roll has run into rough weather over the conditions set for inclusion or retention of a citizen in the master document. The Opposition and some civil society groups have moved the Supreme Court, arguing that ECI's initiative will result in disenfranchisement of a large number of voters. The fears are real, as an exhaustive report in HT has revealed, and they call