The Supreme Court on Wednesday lauded the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral roll, calling it “voter-friendly” due to its requirement of 11 identity documents compared to seven in the earlier summary revision. The observation came during a hearing of petitions challenging the Election Commission’s June 24 decision to conduct the SIR in poll-bound Bihar, with a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi dismissing claims that the process was exclusionary.

Petitioners, represented by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, argued that excluding Aadhaar as proof of citizenship was restrictive and that the 11 required documents, such as passports, had limited availability in Bihar. Singhvi noted that only one to two percent of Bihar’s population holds passports and that permanent resident certificates are not issued in the state, limiting coverage. However, the bench countered that the expanded list of documents was “inclusionary,” designed to maximize voter inclusion. “The number of documents in the SIR is 11, up from seven in the summary revision, which shows it is voter-friendly,” the bench stated, noting that electors need to submit only one of the listed documents.

Justice Bagchi emphasized that the document list was crafted after consultations with government departments to ensure broad coverage, citing Bihar’s 36 lakh passport holders as evidence of sufficient reach. The court also reiterated its stance from August 12, affirming the Election Commission’s authority to manage the inclusion and exclusion of voters, including its decision to not accept Aadhaar or voter cards as conclusive proof of citizenship.

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The SIR has sparked heated debates inside and outside Parliament, with critics alleging it could disenfranchise voters. The Supreme Court addressed these concerns, describing the controversy as “largely a trust deficit issue.” The Election Commission has clarified that approximately 6.5 crore of Bihar’s 7.9 crore voters, whose names or those of their parents appeared in the 2003 electoral rolls, are exempt from submitting additional documents. This exemption aims to streamline the process for a significant portion of the electorate.

As Bihar prepares for upcoming elections, the court’s endorsement of the SIR underscores efforts to ensure a robust and inclusive voter list. The bench urged stakeholders to focus on cooperation to address any gaps in the process, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public trust in the electoral system. The hearing will continue as the court evaluates further arguments on the SIR’s implementation.

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