SC to decide Bihar SIR validity on October 7, warns of quashing ‘entire exercise’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday stated that it was presuming the Election Commission of India, as a constitutional authority, was acting in accordance with the law during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar. However, it cautioned that any illegality found in the process would lead to the entire exercise being quashed.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi scheduled the final hearing on the validity of the Bihar SIR for October 7, while declining to offer any “piecemeal opinion” at this stage.

“Our judgment in the Bihar SIR will be applicable to the pan-India SIR,” the bench clarified, adding that it cannot prevent the Election Commission from carrying out similar revision exercises across the country.

Nevertheless, the court permitted the petitioners opposing the Bihar SIR to also raise arguments regarding the national SIR during the October 7 hearing.

Meanwhile, the court issued notice on a separate plea seeking a recall of its September 8 order, which directed the Election Commission to include the Aadhaar card as the 12th prescribed document for the Bihar SIR.

On September 8, the apex court had clarified that Aadhaar would not serve as proof of citizenship and that the Election Commission could verify its authenticity when submitted by a voter for inclusion in the electoral roll.

The Supreme Court reiterated that it would not deliver a piecemeal verdict on the Bihar SIR, and its final ruling would apply nationwide. It added: “If we find any illegality in the methodology adopted by the ECI at any stage of the Bihar SIR, the entire exercise will be set aside.”

PTI