SC Allows Excluded Voters to Submit Claims with Aadhaar

'Surprised' at limited role of parties in helping voters whose names were deleted

- BHAVINI MISHRA

The Supreme Court on Friday told the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept, apart from other documents, the Aadhaar card for the "claims and objection stage" of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar.

Stressing that the exercise should be "voter-friendly," the court said the persons excluded from the draft electoral roll, ahead of the Assembly elections, could submit online applications for inclusion and submitting them in physical form was not necessary.

"We will allow online submission of claims of deleted voters with the Aadhaar card or any other acceptable documents for the Bihar SIR," the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said.