Key Points:
- Supreme Court directs Election Commission to accept Aadhaar as 12th identity document for Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on September 7, 2025
- Aadhaar valid only for identity verification, not citizenship proof – court clarifies important distinction
- Election Commission issues mandatory compliance order to all Bihar district election officers by September 9
- 7.24 crore voters included in draft list out of 7.89 crore registered voters after SIR process
- Authorities can verify Aadhaar authenticity like any other document and seek additional proof if needed
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling in the ongoing Bihar voter list revision controversy, directing the Election Commission to treat Aadhaar cards as the 12th acceptable identity document for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The landmark decision came on September 7, 2025, following a petition challenging the ECI’s initial 11-document list.
Supreme Court’s Clear Directives
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order after RJD and other petitioners argued that ECI officials were refusing to accept Aadhaar as a standalone document for electoral roll inclusion. The court emphasized that while Aadhaar can establish identity, it “is not proof of citizenship and will not be accepted as proof of citizenship”.
The court recorded an undertaking from the Election Commission, represented by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, confirming that Aadhaar cards will be accepted as proof of identity. However, authorities retain the right to verify the authenticity and genuineness of Aadhaar cards, just as they would with any other submitted document.
Election Commission’s Swift Compliance
Following the Supreme Court directive, the Election Commission issued instructions to Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer by September 9, 2025, mandating immediate compliance across all districts. The order was subsequently transmitted to all District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) throughout Bihar.
The Commission emphasized that non-compliance with this directive would be considered a serious violation, warning that any officer refusing to accept Aadhaar as identity proof would face consequences.
Complete List of 12 Valid Identity Documents
With Aadhaar’s inclusion, Bihar voters can now use any of these 12 documents for voter registration:
- Birth certificate (issued by municipal corporation/panchayat/government body)
- Passport
- Matriculation certificate or recognized board/university certificate
- Government service identity card or pension order
- Permanent residence certificate (issued by District Magistrate)
- Forest rights certificate
- Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC)
- NRC documents (where applicable)
- Family register (issued by local body)
- Land/house allotment certificate (from government office)
- Government/PSU identity card issued before 1987
- Aadhaar card (newly included as per Supreme Court order)[5][8]
Bihar SIR 2025: The Comprehensive Exercise
The Special Intensive Revision in Bihar represents the most extensive voter list cleanup exercise in nearly two decades. Started as a pilot program before national rollout, the SIR aimed to eliminate duplicate and fraudulent entries while ensuring genuine citizens aren’t disenfranchised.
Key SIR Statistics:
- Total registered voters: 7.89 crore
- Voters included in draft list: 7.24 crore
- Voters requiring re-verification: Approximately 65 lakh
- Deadline for initial submissions: July 25, 2025
- Draft roll publication: August 1, 2025
The process required voters registered after 2003 to provide eligibility documents, while those born after July 1, 1987, needed to submit proof of their parents’ date of birth or birthplace.
Legal Journey and Political Implications
The controversy began when the Election Commission initially published a list of 11 acceptable documents on June 24, 2025, which notably excluded commonly available documents like Aadhaar, ration cards, and existing voter ID cards. This sparked widespread protests and legal challenges.
Opposition parties, particularly the RJD, argued that ECI officials were creating unnecessary barriers for legitimate voters, especially affecting marginalized communities who primarily possess Aadhaar cards as their primary identity document.
The Supreme Court’s intervention came after multiple hearings where the ECI maintained that Aadhaar cannot serve as citizenship proof, a position the court ultimately accepted while mandating its use for identity verification.
Implementation and Verification Process
Under the new guidelines, election officials must accept Aadhaar as valid identity proof but retain authority to seek additional documentation if authenticity concerns arise. This balanced approach addresses both accessibility and security concerns in the electoral process.
The Election Commission has issued public advertisements informing voters about the Supreme Court’s directive regarding Aadhaar acceptance, ensuring widespread awareness of the change.
With Bihar assembly elections scheduled for 2025, this ruling significantly impacts voter registration procedures and could influence similar exercises in other states. The decision demonstrates the judiciary’s commitment to balancing electoral integrity with citizens’ fundamental right to vote.
