Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has said that according to the Supreme Court’s orders and under the Aadhaar Act, Aadhaar cannot be considered proof of age, proof of residence, or proof of citizenship, it remains a proof of identity only. Yet, the Commission accepts Aadhaar cards as per the apex court’s order. It might be added as the 12th document needed for voter list revision.
He said, “We are following the Supreme Court order that Aadhaar cards should be accepted. We were accepting Aadhaar cards with the enumeration form and still accepting it. We are fine if it is added as the 12th document in the list of 11 documents that we had asked earlier. However, the Supreme Court has stated in its order that the Aadhaar card will not be proof of citizenship. (Thus) Other documents may be required for eligibility.”
The CEC made the remarks during a press conference in Patna on Sunday after the completion of a two-day visit to Bihar over the preparedness of the assembly elections in the state.
He rejected criticism over the decision to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar just before the Assembly elections and the manner in which the entire process was conducted. He asserted that the entire process was undertaken lawfully and according to provisions. He also said that the demand to postpone it was unjustified.
Kumar further said that all stakeholders participated in the SIR drive, and after the draft publication of the Electoral Rolls, 3.66 lakh voters came forward to remove their names from the list, sensing their responsibility.
If an eligible voter finds out that his name is not included in the final list, he can still apply for it. He can apply for it ten days before the election notification.
The CEC said that the Commission is ready to conduct free, fair and peaceful assembly elections in Bihar. He also pointed out that 17 new initiatives have been rolled out to ensure that it will be a great experience for the electorate who will go to cast their votes.
The Election Commission delegation met representatives from 12 political parties on the first day of its two-day visit to the poll-bound state. Most political parties were in favour of the polls being held immediately after Chhath festival and also demanded that the elections should be completed in one or two phases. The CEC said that polls will be conducted “in as few phases as possible.”