‘Aadhaar, EPIC, ration cards not proof of voter eligibility’

In a detailed affidavit submitted on Monday evening, the poll body argued that its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution provide it with plenary authority to supervise and direct all aspects of elections, including the preparation of electoral rolls.

- Utkarsh Anand

This constitutional mandate, it contended, empowers the Commission to scrutinise voter eligibility, including the requirement of Indian citizenship as prescribed under Article 326. The poll watchdog said failing to prove citizenship for voter registration did not amount to termination of one’s citizenship.

The affidavit comes in response to a batch of petitions filed by several Opposition parliamentarians and civil society organisations, which challenge the legality, timing, and manner of the SIR exercise. The top court, on July 10, agreed to examine the validity of SIR and urged that the draft rolls should not be finalised pending further orders. The court had also asked ECI to consider Aadhaar cards, voter IDs and ration cards, as acceptable proof of eligibility for inclusion in electoral rolls.

The poll body appeared to reject the top court's suggestion, but underlined that the list of 11 documents, which are being currently accepted, is “illustrative and not exhaustive.”