The Supreme Court on Monday observed that it was presuming the Election Commission of India (ECI), being a constitutional authority, was adhering to the law while carrying out the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. However, it cautioned that if any illegality was found in the process, the exercise would be struck down.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said it would take up final arguments on the validity of Bihar’s SIR on October 7, while refusing to issue any “piecemeal opinion” on the matter.
“Our judgment in Bihar SIR will be applicable for pan-India SIR,” the bench clarified, making it clear that it cannot prevent the ECI from undertaking similar revisions across the country. At the same time, it allowed petitioners challenging the Bihar exercise to also advance arguments regarding the nationwide SIR during the upcoming hearing.
Meanwhile, the bench issued notice on a plea seeking recall of its September 8 order, which had directed the poll panel to include Aadhaar as the 12th prescribed document for the Bihar SIR. On that date, the top court had also clarified that Aadhaar would not serve as proof of citizenship, though the ECI was free to verify its authenticity when submitted by an elector for inclusion in the rolls.
