NEW DELHI: Details of two documents that the Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission (EC) to “consider” for the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral roll — Aadhaar and elector’s photo identity card (EPIC) — are already being sought or come pre-filled in the enumeration form distributed to the state’s 7.9 crore voters on June 24.EC is, thus, already collecting Aadhaar details, though furnishing them is optional for the elector, while EPIC number is pre-printed in the enumeration forms, reveals a look at the form reproduced on Page 16 of the SIR instructions dated June 24, 2025. However, Aadhaar has not been included in the “indicative” list of documents to be submitted during SIR, as text on the card’s back as well as guidelines of the UIDAI — issuing authority for Aadhaar — clearly state that “Aadhaar if a proof of identity, not of citizenship”.Electoral registration officers (EROs) can rely on field inquiry or any alternative proof as the list specified by EC is only “indicative and not exhaustive” — establish if an elector fulfils the eligibility criteria laid down under Article 326 of the Constitution — that he should be a citizen of India, not less than 18 years old and ordinarily resident of the constituency where he wishes to enrol.On Thursday, EC had finished collecting over 66% of enumeration forms, accounting for one-third of the state’s 7.9 crore electorate. The exercise is progressing smoothly in Bihar with the full involvement of electors, booth level officers, booth level agents appointed by political parties, and volunteers, EC officials said.Around 4.9 crore of Bihar’s 7.9 crore electors who had figured in the state’s 2003 electoral roll only need to submit enumeration forms, without any document, by July 25. Those who are not in the 2003 roll must submit enumeration details and a declaration regarding the status of their citizenship, with documentary proof, depending on their date of birth and the relevant provisions of the Citizenship Act in force at the time of their birth.EC, while listing the 11 ‘indicative’ documents to prove one’s date and place of birth, took care to include only papers issued to Indian citizens, be it a govt identity card or pension payment order, birth certificate, passport, permanent residence certificate that lists Aadhaar as one of the required documents, forest right and caste certificate issued exclusively to Indian citizens after due diligence, and any land or house allotment certificate by the govt.Only matriculation certificate does not mention the place of birth of the elector, an ERO can always make his own field inquiry and consider other documents while deciding on the applicant’s eligibility for enrolment.
