The Supreme Court on Friday, August 22, directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept Aadhaar or any of the 11 prescribed documents from voters in Bihar whose names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said that claims for inclusion can be submitted both online and physically, making the process more accessible for affected voters.
The court expressed concern over the “inaction” of political parties and their booth-level agents (BLAs), noting that they had not assisted citizens in filing claims. It urged parties to play a proactive role in helping excluded voters.
The bench also directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar to make political parties respondents in the matter and to submit a status report on the claims facilitated before the next hearing.
The order is expected to provide relief to thousands of voters ahead of the state’s upcoming polls, ensuring broader participation in the electoral process.
