Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Political analyst Yogendra Yadav has described the Supreme Court’s observations in the ongoing Bihar voter list dispute as “the first big victory” for those challenging the Election Commission’s special intensive revision of the state’s electoral rolls. While the court has not stayed the revision exercise, it has suggested the Election Commission include Aadhaar, voter ID cards, and ration cards as valid documents for voter re-verification.
Supreme Court Questions Timing and Legality of Revision
Speaking to NDTV on Thursday, Yadav said, “Now the entire process will be monitored by the Supreme Court… the court will keep an eye on the revision of electoral rolls. We have got the first big victory today.” The Supreme Court raised tough questions for the Election Commission, demanding clarity on the legal basis for conducting this exercise and the urgency to revise a voter list already updated in January, especially so close to the upcoming Assembly elections.
Yadav emphasized that their petition argued the revision could suppress the voting rights of ordinary citizens, and he welcomed the court’s observations. “I am happy the Supreme Court has recorded, in its order, the suggestion that Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration card should be included in the list of documents,” he said.
Concerns Over Potential Voter Disenfranchisement
The Supreme Court expressed “serious doubts” about whether the Election Commission could complete the special intensive revision in time without disenfranchising genuine voters, particularly considering the large population involved—estimated at around eight crore people. The court noted that while revising rolls was not inherently problematic, the timing was concerning in light of the October/November Assembly elections.
During proceedings, the court also questioned why widely accepted government IDs like Aadhaar and voter ID cards were initially excluded from the list of documents required for re-verification. The bench observed that including Aadhaar, ration cards, and the EC’s own identity card would serve the interests of justice.
Political Tensions Rise in Bihar Over Revision Drive
The Bihar voter list revision has sparked significant political controversy, with opposition parties, including the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal, accusing the Election Commission of working under pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Critics argue the exercise risks disenfranchising millions of poor and marginalized voters who might lack the required documentation, even though they have participated in multiple elections since the last major revision in 2003.
In response, the Election Commission has denied any wrongdoing. It clarified in court that Aadhaar is used purely to verify identity, not citizenship, and assured that no genuine voter would be removed. Sources within the Commission later told NDTV that the poll body believes it is legally justified in conducting the special intensive revision and reiterated that Aadhaar is already recognized as a valid ID.
