Accept Aadhaar as ID proof in Bihar SIR, apex court tells EC

THE SUPREME COURT on Monday directed the Election Commission to accept Aadhaar as a 12th document, in addition to the 11 it has permitted for identification in order to be included in the final electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar ahead of Assembly elections.

- ANANTHAKRISHNAN G

The bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, however, made it clear that Aadhaar "is not proof of citizenship", and stated that the EC will be entitled to assess its authenticity.

"...keeping in view S.23(4) of the RP (Representation of People) Act, Aadhaar card is one document for the purpose of establishing identity of any person...The Aadhaar card...shall be accepted for establishing the identity of any person for inclusion or exclusion in the revised voters list of state of Bihar," the bench ordered.

"The Aadhaar card, in this regard, shall be treated as the 12th document by the authorities. However, it is clarified that the authorities shall be entitled to verify the authenticity and genuineness of the Aadhaar card itself," it stated.

Appearing for the RJD, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said that though the court had earlier directed that Aadhaar must be accepted as proof of identity in addition to the other 11 documents, it was not being done so, and alleged that this amounted to contempt of court orders.