Supreme Court dismisses objections to Aadhaar card being considered an electoral identity document. The court stated that forgery is possible not only with Aadhaar but also with other documents like driving licenses and ration cards.
Bihar SIR: With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, a significant debate has erupted concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The Aadhaar card has become the focal point of this debate. The Supreme Court recently delivered a crucial verdict, ordering the inclusion of the Aadhaar card in the list of documents proving citizenship. However, a petition was filed against this order, arguing that individuals could create fake Aadhaar cards and gain an unfair advantage.
Dismissing this petition, the Supreme Court clearly stated that not only Aadhaar but also other documents like driving licenses and ration cards can be forged. Therefore, it is not appropriate to view Aadhaar with suspicion alone.
Why the petition was filed
The Election Commission, as part of the SIR process, had initially released a list of 11 documents considered valid for proving citizenship. Aadhaar card was not included in this list. Subsequently, the Supreme Court, in its order, stipulated that Aadhaar card should be recognized as the 12th document. The petitioners appealed to the court against this, stating that creating fake Aadhaar cards is easy. Therefore, it should not be considered proof of citizenship.
Supreme Court's remarks
The Supreme Court bench comprised Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. During the hearing, the court clarified that the possibility of forgery exists with every document.
The court stated, "Driving licenses can be fake, ration cards can also be fake. Other documents can also be manufactured. In such a scenario, it is not right to view only Aadhaar with suspicion." The court also reiterated that Aadhaar should be used only within the limits prescribed by law.
Role of the Election Commission
The Election Commission had issued a list of documents to prove citizenship and identity prior to the Bihar elections. This list included documents like driving licenses, ration cards, passports, and bank passbooks. However, Aadhaar was not named. During the hearing on September 8, the Supreme Court stated that Aadhaar should also be recognized.
Why the controversy over Aadhaar
In India, the Aadhaar card has been presented as a unique identity. It contains biometric and demographic information. However, questions regarding Aadhaar's security and its misuse have arisen from time to time. Reports of fake Aadhaar cards being created have also surfaced on several occasions.
The petitioners argued that if Aadhaar were to be accepted as a valid means of proving citizenship, a large number of people could create fake Aadhaar cards and get included in the voter list.
Court's balanced approach
The Supreme Court adopted a balanced stance in this entire matter. The court refused to accept that Aadhaar alone could be a tool for misuse. The court stated that every document has its vulnerabilities. Forgery is possible with any document. Therefore, singling out Aadhaar would not be appropriate.
