Date: July 21, 2025
The Election Commission of India (EC) has clarified to the Supreme Court that exclusion from electoral rolls under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar does not terminate citizenship. This statement responds to concerns raised by petitioners that the SIR amounted to a “citizenship screening” exercise threatening mass disenfranchisement.
Key Points from EC’s 88‑Page Affidavit
- Citizenship Remains Intact
“Under the SIR exercise, the citizenship of an individual will not terminate because he/she is held to be ineligible for registration in the electoral rolls,” the EC affirmed. - Statutory Mandate to Verify Citizenship
The EC emphasised its constitutional duty under Article 324, Article 326, and Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to validate voter eligibility, including citizenship. - Only Citizens Vote
The Commission reiterated that verifying citizenship is essential and not the domain of the central government under Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, which deals exclusively with voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship. - Aadhaar, EPIC, Ration Card Rejected as SIR Proof
The EC clarified that documents like Aadhaar, existing EPIC, or ration cards do not alone qualify as proof of citizenship for SIR purposes, though they may be used supplementarily. - Document Criteria & Procedural Safeguards
The SIR includes an indicative list of 11 documents—such as passports, birth certificates, and Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) records—and ensures that the list isn’t exhaustive. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) retain discretion to accept equivalent documents.
What Happens Next
- The Supreme Court will resume hearing the petitions on July 28, following the EC’s submission.
- Petitioners argue the SIR’s tight deadlines and strict documentation risk disenfranchising the poor, migrant workers, and marginalised communities, citing the exclusion of commonly-held IDs.
- Critics also note that Bihar’s migration patterns could lead to hundreds of thousands of voters being left out despite meeting all eligibility criteria.
Why This Matters
This case strikes at the heart of democratic rights, ensuring voter lists are accurate while protecting citizens from being wrongfully disenfranchised. The Supreme Court’s ruling could redefine where the line is drawn between electoral verification and citizenship rights. A ruling in favour of the petitioners might compel the EC to relax documentation standards or alter the SIR procedure ahead of Bihar’s assembly elections scheduled for October–November 2025.
This story is developing—stay tuned for updates following the next hearing.
