Election Commission assures Supreme Court that exclusion from electoral rolls under SIR will not affect citizenship
The Election Commission (EC) assured the Supreme Court that being found ineligible for electoral roll registration under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar will not lead to citizenship cancellation. The EC clarified that its guidelines are constitutional and aim to maintain the purity of electoral rolls, emphasizing that Article 326 (adult suffrage) ensures the right to vote without discrimination. Voters already on the 2003 rolls are exempt from furnishing documents if they submit a partially pre-filled enumeration form. The EC also stated that Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards cannot be accepted as standalone documents for SIR, as Aadhaar is only proof of identity, and bogus ration cards are widespread.
Key Points
- The Election Commission clarified that exclusion from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar does not equate to citizenship cancellation.
- The EC's guidelines are aimed at ensuring the purity of electoral rolls and are constitutional.
- Article 326 of the Constitution grants every citizen the right to vote without discrimination.
- Documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards are not accepted as standalone proof for SIR due to their nature or potential for misuse.
Exam Facts
- Article 326 of the Constitution grants universal adult franchise.
- The EC's affidavit was in response to allegations of 'citizenship screening' during SIR in poll-bound Bihar.
- The final electoral roll will be published on September 30, 2025.
- Aadhaar is merely a proof of identity, not citizenship.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.