“Repeated Obstacles Being Created By Election Commission To…”: Congress’ Jairam Ramesh On Supreme Court’s Aadhaar Ruling

In a sharp rebuke to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has accused the body of deliberately hindering voter registration in Bihar, following the Supreme Court’s latest directive on accepting Aadhaar cards as valid identity proof. The court’s order, issued on Monday, marks the third intervention in the matter, underscoring growing tensions ahead of the state’s assembly elections scheduled for later this year.

The Supreme Court, in a ruling by a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, directed the ECI to recognise Aadhaar as the 12th document for inclusion in Bihar’s revised electoral roll.

This decision came after petitions from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and others, who alleged that ECI officials were refusing to accept Aadhaar as a standalone proof of identity, insisting instead on one of the 11 documents specified in the commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) notification.

The court’s order clarifies that while Aadhaar, under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, is not proof of citizenship, it serves as a valid identity document under Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

“Accordingly, we direct the Election Commission of India and its authorities to accept Aadhaar Card as a proof of identity for the purpose of inclusion or exclusion in the revised voter list of the State of Bihar,” the bench stated. It added that Aadhaar would be treated as the 12th document, with officials entitled to verify its authenticity and genuineness, similar to other enumerated documents.

The ECI has been instructed to issue guidelines on this by September 9, 2025, ensuring compliance across Bihar’s voter registration drives. This ruling aims to streamline the SIR process, which has been plagued by complaints of bureaucratic hurdles, particularly in a state where elections are imminent.

Reacting strongly, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, the party’s in-charge of communications, lambasted the ECI for what he described as “brazen non-compliance” with prior court directives. In a statement, Ramesh said: “The Election Commission must be named and shamed for its brazen non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive to accept Aadhaar as a proof of identity. Today, once again for the THIRD TIME, the Supreme Court reiterated the point that Aadhaar must be accepted as a valid ID to register voters.”

Ramesh went further, alleging a pattern of obstructionism by the commission “Repeated obstacles are being created by the Election Commission to deliberately inconvenience the registration of legitimate voters,” he claimed. He pointed to instances where the ECI has refused to recognise Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties, declined to accept Aadhaar outright, and even issued notices to officials to adhere strictly to prescribed documents. “Keep in mind that this is a mess of the Election Commission’s own making,” Ramesh added, attributing the chaos to decisions influenced by what he cryptically referred to as “G2” – a likely jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as both are from Gujarat.

The Congress leader framed the upcoming Bihar elections as a battle not just against the incumbent government but “despite the ECI.” He warned that the current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the institution would face historical judgement: “This CEC and the institution he heads shall not be forgiven by history.”

The controversy surrounding Bihar’s voter list revision has intensified scrutiny on the ECI’s impartiality. The SIR, initiated close to the polls, has drawn criticism for its timing and execution. Opposition parties argue that restrictive document requirements disproportionately affect marginalised communities, potentially disenfranchising thousands. The RJD, in its petition, highlighted how field officials’ refusal to accept Aadhaar – a widely held document in India – was creating unnecessary barriers.