Bihar SIR case: Aadhaar card must be treated as 12th document, says Supreme Court
Supreme Court asked ECI to issue instructions about the acceptance of the Aadhaar card as the 12th document for Bihar SIR
New Delhi: In the Bihar SIR case, the Supreme Court directed that the Aadhaar card must be treated as the 12th document for the purpose of identity to include voters in the Bihar SIR exercise.
According to reports, the Supreme Court however said it has clarified that authorities shall be entitled to verify the authenticity and genuineness of the Aadhaar card itself. It shall not be accepted as the proof of citizenship.
Further, the Supreme Court asked the Election Commission of India to issue instructions about the acceptance of the Aadhaar card as the 12th document to its officials.
It is worth mentioning here that the Supreme Court on August 22 expressed surprise over political parties’ inaction on the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar. The Apex Court urged the parties to come forward with the correction of names of deleted voters in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in poll-bound Bihar.
Further, the Supreme Court took note of ECI’s submission that 85,000 new voters have come forward in SIR of Bihar, and only two objections have been filed by booth-level agents of political parties.
It is worth mentioning here that, the Supreme Court said that all 12 political parties in Bihar shall issue specific directions to party workers to assist people in filing and submission of requisite forms with any 11 documents in Form 6 or Aadhaar Card.
Supreme Court added, individual person at their own or with assistance of BLAs (booth elevl agents) are entitled to apply online and not necessary to submit application in physical form.
Supreme Court says BLAs of all political parties are directed to make an endeavour that approximately 65 lakh persons not included in the draft rolls are facilitated, except those who are dead or have voluntarily migrated, in submitting their objections by the cutoff date of September 1.
Supreme Court says wherever physical forms are submitted, BLOs to acknowledge receipt, but, such acknowledgment shall not be proof that form is complete in all respect.
