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The Supreme Court delivered a significant verdict on Monday. The court stated that during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, the Aadhaar card will be accepted as a valid identity document.
Aadhaar Becomes the 12th Document
A bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that Aadhaar will only be valid as proof of identity. It will not be considered proof of citizenship. Now, the Aadhaar card has been included as the 12th document along with 11 other government identity documents for voter verification in Bihar.
Clear Directions from the Supreme Court
The bench clarified that officials are entitled to verify the authenticity and genuineness of the Aadhaar card. The court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish this order on its website.
Election Commission’s Argument
Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Election Commission, stated that 99.6% of the 72.4 million voters have already submitted the required documents. According to him, the existing 11 documents are sufficient. He also argued that Aadhaar is not equivalent to documents like passports or land papers.
Petitioners’ Demand
RJD and the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms argued that Aadhaar should be accepted as a valid proof of identity. They said the ECI repeatedly asked officials to accept only 11 documents, whereas Aadhaar should also be valid. Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Gopal Shankarnarayanan also supported including Aadhaar in the list.
Discussion on Illegal Migrants
During the hearing, it was noted that about 0.3% of people might be illegal migrants. The court reiterated that Aadhaar will not be accepted as proof of citizenship.
Changes Due to This Verdict
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Bihar voters can now prove their identity using the Aadhaar card.
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This document will now be considered on par with passports, driving licenses, and ration cards.
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Election officials can verify the Aadhaar card to prevent fake entries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Aadhaar card now a valid identity document for voter verification in Bihar?
Yes, the Supreme Court has approved Aadhaar card as a valid identity proof for voter lists in Bihar.
Will the Aadhaar card be considered proof of citizenship?
No, the court clearly stated that Aadhaar will only be considered as identity proof, not citizenship proof.
How many documents were valid for Bihar’s voter list before?
Until now, 11 documents were valid for voter identification in Bihar. Now Aadhaar has been added as the 12th document.
What was the Election Commission’s stance on Aadhaar?
The Election Commission said Aadhaar is not at par with passports or land documents but will be considered for identity verification.
Can officials verify the authenticity of the Aadhaar card?
Yes, officials can verify the authenticity and reality of the Aadhaar card like other documents.
What benefit will Bihar voters get from this verdict?
Voters can now present their Aadhaar card to prove identity, making the verification process easier and faster.
This verdict is an important step towards a more transparent and reliable election process in Bihar. It will help include the right people in the voter list and ensure fair elections.
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