The Supreme Court has upheld the use of Aadhaar as a voter ID in Bihar, allowing its inclusion in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) list. The Court clarified that Aadhaar is valid for identification, even though it cannot serve as proof of citizenship. This interim order ensures wider access to voter inclusion while keeping the issue open for final adjudication.
📜 Case Background: Aadhaar Voter ID Bihar
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Issue | Validity of Aadhaar as voter ID in Bihar SIR |
| Petitioner | Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay |
| Bench | Justices Surya Kant and Joymlaya Bagchi |
| Court’s Position | Aadhaar accepted as identity proof; not proof of citizenship |
| Hearing Date | September 15, 2025 |
| Next Hearing | October 7, 2025 |
Upadhyay argued that the government issues Aadhaar to foreigners and therefore it cannot be equated with documents that establish citizenship. However, the Court reiterated that people can also forge driving licenses, ration cards, and other documents, and emphasized that authorities must use Aadhaar only to the extent permitted by law.
🧑⚖️ Legal Reasoning: Aadhaar Is Not Citizenship Proof, But Still Valid ID
“Driving licenses can be forged… ration cards can be forged. Several documents can be forged. Aadhaar is to be utilized to the extent law permits.” — Justice Surya Kant
- The Court clarified that its order is interim and the issue remains open for final adjudication.
- It refused to single out Aadhaar for exclusion based on forgery concerns.
- The ECI retains discretion to verify the authenticity of submitted documents.
- The Court emphasized constitutional neutrality, leaving political concerns to the ECI.
🔍 Why Aadhaar Was Accepted in Bihar SIR
- Authorities added Aadhaar as the 12th valid document for voter inclusion.
- The Court noted that officials dropped 65 lakh names from the draft roll published on August 1.
- On August 22, it allowed excluded voters to use Aadhaar for re-inclusion.
- ECI had previously accepted 11 other documents, excluding Aadhaar.
💬 Vakilify Insight
This ruling reinforces that identity verification in electoral processes must balance inclusion with integrity. While Aadhaar cannot serve as proof of citizenship, it remains a legally recognized identity document under the Aadhaar Act, 2016. The Court’s stance ensures that voter inclusion efforts remain accessible, especially for those lacking conventional documents.
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