New Delhi [India], July 10 : After the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission (EC) to continue with its voter list revision exercise while asking the constitutional body to consider including Aadhar and ration cards as ID proof, Congress MP KC Venugopal on Thursday said that it seemed like that the EC would go with the suggestion of the apex court.
"...It is a relief for the democracy. The matter will now be heard on July 28. The Supreme Court has given its views through this that Aadhaar, voter ID and ration card are to be part of the verification process. I think the Election Commission will go with this suggestion of the Supreme Court. Let's wait for it," Venugopal told ANI.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was initiated by the Election Commission to update Bihar's electoral rolls, which has been met with resistance from opposition parties. They argued that the short timelines and stringent requirements could lead to disenfranchisement of many eligible voters.
The Supreme Court's decision to allow the SIR to continue has sparked reactions from various political quarters, with the ruling alliance seeing it as a validation of their stance.
Venugopal's remarks come after the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi did not stay the SIR process but asked the ECI to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity during the SIR of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar.
"We are of the prima facie opinion that in the interest of justice, the Election Commission will also include documents like Aadhaar, Ration Card, Voter ID card, etc. It is for the ECI to decide whether it wants to accept the documents or not, and if it does not, then provide reasons for its decision, which shall be sufficient to satisfy the petitioners. Meanwhile, petitioners are not pressing for an interim stay," the bench stated in its order.
In its order, the top court noted that the timeline for the process is very short since elections in Bihar are due in November.
The apex court posted for hearing on July 28 the pleas challenging ECI's move to conduct SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and asked the poll panel to file its affidavit within one week.
During the hearing, the bench opined that Aadhaar should be included within the list of documents permissible as an ID proof.
"We feel since Aadhar has been taken as a solid proof for inclusion in electoral rolls... it should be included. Your enumeration list is all related to identity - matriculation certificate, etc.," observed the bench.
The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission of India's move to conduct the SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
According to advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, the hearing of the case is scheduled for July 28; until then, the Election Commission of India will continue with its SIR process in Bihar.
He informed that the Supreme Court wants the ECI to include Aadhaar card, voter ID card and ration card in the Special Intensive Revision Process.