The Election Commission has filed a detailed affidavit of 789 pages in the Supreme Court regarding the ongoing special intensive voter list revision 2025 in Bihar. The Commission said that documents like Aadhaar card and voter ID cannot be considered a valid proof for voter registration alone.

Aadhaar only identification document …

The Commission made it clear that the Aadhaar card only proves identity, but it does not provide proof of Indian citizenship or permanent residence. According to Article 326 of the Constitution of India, it is necessary for a person to be a citizen to become a voter. The Commission also informed that it has been clearly written on the Aadhaar cards issued after January 2024 that Aadhaar is not a proof of citizenship.

No proof of base citizenship

The Election Commission told the Supreme Court that various High Courts have also rejected Aadhaar as citizenship proof. For example, in cases like Rani Mistry vs. West Bengal State (2016) and Khadija Swapna vs. Karnataka State (2017), courts said that no one can be proved citizenship on the basis of Aadhaar only.

Aadhaar optional, not necessary

The Commission said in its affidavit that giving Aadhaar number is an alternative option under Section 23 (4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, no mandatory. That is, it is not necessary to give Aadhaar for voter registration nor is it a proof of eligibility.

Voter ID is also not enough evidence

The Election Commission also said that it would not be right to accept the voter ID card on the basis of only. The reason for this is that voter IDs are often based on old or incomplete information. Therefore, if they are accepted, then questions can be raised on the accuracy and transparency of special intensive revision. The Election Commission believes that the voter list needs stringent verification to maintain clean and mistaken, which cannot be left on the basis of old documents.

Thus, the Election Commission has firmly placed its stance before the court and emphasized reliable and latest documents for voter identity, so that the correctness and reliableness of the voter list remains.