SIR: SC ruling brings relief

The Supreme Court’s directive to the Election Commission to publish the list of 65 lakh Bihar voters who have not been included in the draft rolls released on August 1, marks a new turn in the imbroglio stemming from opaque SIR exercise in the state.

There were grave apprehensions that the list excludes genuine voters belonging to marginalised sections of society in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted between August 1 and 25 or were not residing at the place mentioned in the records.

The Court’s directive to the ECI to publish the list of excluded voters on a website and provide reason for the exclusion, should come as a relief for those who could not fill enumeration forms due to their absence at their home address.

The interim ruling of the court came in response to the NGO Association for Democratic Right’s (ADR) plea to impart transparency and allow individuals to know their status in the electoral rolls. It has also directed that the list be displayed at the district level offices of the Commission or Panchayat Bhavans enabling the left-out voters to search their names with the help of EPIC numbers.

The ADR had approached the court citing unfair exclusions and EC’s refusal to consider Aadhaar Card, Voter ID or ration card as valid proofs of citizen’s identity. The ruling has directed that “aggrieved persons may submit their claims along with a copy of their Aadhaar Card”.

This goes half the distance towards validating Aadhaar Card as a proof of identity. But it is still unclear whether Aadhaar can be a valid document to be included as a voter. Thursday’s ruling has taken the wind out of the ECI’s sails which has been pushing SIR in haste in a state where 60 lakh people live and work outside due to deficient employment opportunities.