In a timely and significant intervention, the Supreme Court has raised pointed concerns about the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Without halting the process, the Court flagged the unrealistic timeline and the potential disenfranchisement of legitimate voters ~ particularly when crucial documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards were inexplicably left off the official list of acceptable proof of identity. The Court’s remarks are not merely procedural; they strike at the heart of India’s democratic functioning. Observing that the country suffers from “document starvation,” the two-judge bench underscored the practical difficulty many citizens face in furnishing the kind of documents mandated by the ECI.

The judges urged the Commission to include Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards as acceptable documents, even while allowing it to provide justified........

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