Bihar Election: Supreme Court Hearing on Bihar Voter List Verification, Key Observations | ABP NEWS
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a critical case regarding the verification of the voter list in Bihar. The court emphasized that the Election Commission (EC) is fulfilling its constitutional duty. The EC, an autonomous body, is responsible for conducting free and fair elections and ensuring that only eligible citizens are included in the voter list. The court stated that the ongoing process by the EC is constitutional and legal under Article 326 and the Representation of the People Act. However, petitioners have raised concerns over the exclusion of documents like Aadhaar, voter ID cards, and ration cards from the accepted list of identity proofs. The EC argues that Aadhaar does not certify citizenship, which is a mandatory criterion for voter eligibility. The Supreme Court acknowledged these arguments but sought clarifications on why such documents are not accepted. Political leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, have accused the Election Commission of biased functioning, alleging it acts in favor of the ruling party. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal is arguing on citizenship verification and the limits of the EC’s authority to determine citizenship. The court’s preliminary observations affirm the EC’s constitutional role, but the debate on document validity and citizenship continues as the hearing progresses.
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