‘Aadhaar, voter and ration cards valid only for identification’; EC justifies SIR in Bihar

Another big reason for the heat is also about the decision of the Election Commission to conduct a special intensive revision (SIR-2025) of the voter list.

New Delhi: Assembly elections are to be held in Bihar by the end of this year. For this, there is a lot of heat in politics across the state. However, another big reason for the heat is also about the decision of the Election Commission to conduct a special intensive revision (SIR-2025) of the voter list.

Where opposition parties are constantly opposing this decision of the Election Commission. In such a situation, on Tuesday, the Election Commission has given clarification by filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court on the questions raised regarding AIR-2025 going on in Bihar.

In its affidavit, the Election Commission said that this process is necessary to maintain the sanctity of the election, as it removes ineligible persons from the voter list. The Commission said that during SIR-2025, identity related information like Aadhar card, voter card and ration card is being used only to establish identity, not as proof of citizenship or residence.

Aadhaar is identity, not citizenship
The Commission clarified that providing Aadhaar number is optional and it is being taken only for identification and not to prove citizenship. According to Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, Aadhaar is not a proof of citizenship. Along with this, the Commission also emphasized that any citizen of India can vote only when he is 18 years old and is a normal resident of that area. A person who does not fulfill these qualifications does not have the right to vote, so he cannot make any claim under Article 19 (right to freedom) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.

BLOs are filling the forms by going door to door
Along with this, the Election Commission said that out of 7.89 crore voters in Bihar, forms of 7.11 crore people (90.12%) have been filled so far. In this process, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are going door to door and giving pre-filled forms to the voters.

The commission said that 94.68% voters have participated in the process. There are only 0.01% people who could not be found even after several attempts. Finally, the Election Commission said that the work of getting the forms filled by the remaining 5.2% voters will be completed by 25 July 2025.