Supreme Court affirms Aadhaar as part of statute for voter verification under RP Act
The Supreme Court clarified that Aadhaar is part of the "right-to-vote statute" and can be used by voters for identity verification. This came during a plea challenging the use of Aadhaar for special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The court noted that Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, permits Election Commission officials to use Aadhaar to authenticate entries. While the petitioner argued Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship or residence, the court maintained its validity as a document for voter verification alongside other prescribed documents.
Key Points
- Aadhaar is recognized as a valid document for voter verification under the Representation of the People Act.
- Section 23(4) of the RP Act, 1950, allows EC officials to use Aadhaar for authenticating electoral roll entries.
- The court rejected the argument that Aadhaar is inferior to other identity documents for electoral purposes.
- The ruling clarifies that while Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, it serves as a unique identity proof permitted by law for voters.
Exam Facts
- Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
- Aadhaar is the '12th document' listed for voter verification.
- Case involves special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
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