Exclusion of Aadhaar, ration playing cards in SIR ‘patently absurd’: NGO to Supreme Court docket

The NGO Affiliation for Democratic Reforms has advised the Supreme Court docket that the exclusion of Aadhaar and ration playing cards from the record of acceptable paperwork within the Particular Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls is “patently absurd” and that the Election Fee has given no legitimate motive for its choice.

In a rejoinder filed within the prime courtroom, the NGO mentioned that the Aadhaar card is among the paperwork accepted for acquiring a Everlasting Residence Certificates, any OBC/SC/ST Certificates and passports.

This makes “ECI’s rejection of Aadhaar (which is probably the most extensively held doc) beneath the moment SIR order patently absurd”, the NGO mentioned.

It mentioned that the EC has given no legitimate motive to exclude Aadhaar and ration playing cards from the record of acceptable paperwork.

The NGO has contended that electoral registration officers are vested with broad and unchecked discretion that might end in disenfranchisement of a major section of Bihar’s inhabitants.

“The petition submits that the SIR order dated 24 June 2025, if not put aside, can arbitrarily and with out due course of disenfranchise lakhs of residents from electing their representatives, thereby disrupting free and truthful elections and democracy within the nation, that are a part of the fundamental construction of the Structure,” the NGO mentioned.