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India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Congress showing double standards on Aadhaar issue": BJP's Sambit Patra after Supreme Court verdict on SIR
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): Reacting to the Supreme Court's decision on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, BJP MP Sambit Patra accused the Congress and Opposition parties of hypocrisy, stating they earlier opposed Aadhaar-voter ID linkage but are now demanding its inclusion. He said this shift exposes their 'double standards' on Aadhaar's role in electoral reforms. Speaking to ANI, Patra said, 'The way the Opposition and the Congress are opposing the Aadhar Card, it shows their double standards. When PM Modi spoke about Aadhaar in the Parliament and said that if there are to be no middlemen, then Aadhaar is required... The Opposition and the Congress spoke against the PM.' 'In 2022, when the government decided to link Aadhaar with the voter card, Congress took the matter to the Supreme Court, arguing that Aadhaar is solely for identification purposes and that linking it with the voter card was inappropriate. Today, they are saying that voting rights and citizenship should be decided based on Aadhaar. This reflects the double standards of the Congress,' he added. Reacting to the same court order, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh stated that the Election Commission of India's (ECI) 'spin' on 'no stay' being given has been clearly 'exposed' by the Supreme Court. Ramesh, the General Secretary in charge of Communications for Congress, posted a picture of the order on X, stating that Page 7 of the order clearly indicated that any requested no stay of the petitioners. He then said that deliberately 'misleading' headline management does not befit a Constitutional authority. Meanwhile, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the top court's decision while hitting out at 'ECI sources' for misrepresenting the court's order. He criticised the claims made by EC sources that the constitutional body accepts Aadhar as per page 16 of the Special Intensive Revision, while also informing about the EPIC number being 'pre-printed' on the enumeration forms being meted out. On Thursday, the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi did not stay the SIR process but asked the ECI to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity during the SIR of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar. 'We are of the prima facie opinion that in the interest of justice, the Election Commission will also include documents like Aadhaar, Ration Card, Voter ID card, etc. It is for the ECI to decide whether it wants to accept the documents or not, and if it does not, then provide reasons for its decision, which shall be sufficient to satisfy the petitioners. Meanwhile, petitioners are not pressing for an interim stay,' the bench stated in its order. In its order, the top court noted that the timeline for the process is very short since elections in Bihar are due in November. The apex court posted for hearing on July 28 the pleas challenging ECI's move to conduct SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and asked the poll panel to file its affidavit within one week. During the hearing, the bench opined that Aadhaar should be included within the list of documents permissible as an ID proof. The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission of India's move to conduct the SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The petitions challenging the ECI decision were filed by RJD MP Manoj Jha, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), PUCL, activist Yogendra Yadav, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra, and former Bihar MLA Mujahid petitions sought a direction to quash the ECI's June 24 directive, which requires large sections of voters in Bihar to submit proof of citizenship to remain on the electoral rolls. The petition also raised concerns over the exclusion of widely held documents like Aadhaar and ration cards, stating that this would disproportionately affect the poor and marginalised voters, especially in rural Bihar. Meanwhile, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the top court's decision while hitting out at 'ECI sources' for misrepresenting the court's order. He criticised the claims made by EC sources that the constitutional body accepts Aadhar as per page 16 of the Special Intensive Revision, while also informing about the EPIC number being 'pre-printed' on the enumeration forms being meted out. (ANI)
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister commends Supreme Court's decision permitting the use of SIR in the electoral roll
Bihar election roll news: The Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday (July 10 2025) "welcomed" the move and said that "Its implementation was essential in order to make sure that just residents of the country are enrolled". "Bihar Deputy CM welcomes Supreme Court. Nobody interferes in activities of Election Commission. We provide only suggestions. We do not offer any advice. Supreme Court allows SIR of electoral roll which means that Aadhar Card, PAN Card and Ration Card can be considered as part of SIR" He said. Choudhary in Ranchi. After hearing several petitions regarding the current SIR electoral roll Bihar, Supreme Court on Thursday granted SIR Election Commission to continue with SIR and referred to it as an "constitutional directive". "The Constitution of India states it is only an Indian citizen is able to be an eligible voting citizen", Bihar Deputy CM statement on SIR further stated while declaring, "SIR drive should continue". Leader of the Party as well as BJP MLA of Saran, Rajiv Pratap Rudy also stated, "As per the constitution the polling body has the power to conduct electoral roll verification Bihar where elections are scheduled within the next three months. But the Opposition have taken the matter toward court to appeal the decision of Supreme Court, claiming that it's a method to distinguish voters who belong to a different caste or religion and a claim that is utterly untrue. It is true that the Supreme Court has not stayed the decision of the polling body". Its opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and spokespersons, Mrityunjay Tiwari told media individuals, "We only wanted to include documents such as Aadhar Card, Ration Card and MNREGA card in the list to be used for Supreme Court electoral roll decision and also the Supreme Court has asked EC to include these. We have never claimed that SIR is not legal and should not continue. We are pleased with this Bihar politics Supreme Court decision asking the EC to include these cards in the SIR exercise".
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister welcomes Supreme Court step to allow SIR of electoral roll
Hours after Supreme Court hearing petitions on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on electoral rolls by Election Commission in Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday (July 10, 2025) 'welcomed' the step and asserted that 'Its implementation was necessary to ensure that only citizens of the country were enrolled'. The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal said they welcomed Supreme Court asking EC to include Aadhar and other cards into SIT exercise. 'We welcome the Supreme Court decision. No one interferes with the work of the Election Commission. We only give suggestions. The Supreme Court is of the view that Aadhar Card, PAN Card and Ration Card could be considered in SIR', said Mr. Choudhary in Ranchi. Mr. Choudhary was in Ranchi to attend 27th Eastern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. While hearing a number of petitions on ongoing SIR on electoral rolls in Bihar, Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Election Commission to continue with SIR while calling it a 'constitutional mandate'. 'The constitution of India says that only an Indian citizen can be a voter', Mr. Choudhary further said while asserting, 'SIR drive should continue'. Party leader and BJP MP from Saran, Rajiv Pratap Rudy too said, 'As per the constitution, the poll body has right to conduct electoral roll revision in Bihar where elections are due in three months. However, the Opposition have moved to the Supreme Court, claiming that it is a way to separate some of the voters who are from a different caste or a religion— a claim which is absolutely false. The Supreme Court has not stayed the poll body's decision'. The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and spokespersons, Mrityunjay Tiwari told media persons, 'We only wanted to include documents like Aadhar Card, Ration Card and MNREGA card to be included in the list for SIR on electoral roll in the State and the Supreme Court has asked EC to include these. We never said that SIR is illegal and should not be continued. We welcome the Supreme Court's decision asking the EC to include these cards in SIR exercise'.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
'Why not Aadhaar?': Citizenship proof a key point as SC hears pleas against Bihar voter revision
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission why Aadhaar was not being accepted as proof of citizenship in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, which goes to polls in October-November. At one point a judge on the bench remarked that even he could not show all the documents mandated, especially in the short timeline set. Election officials handing over enumeration forms to voters ahead of the Bihar assembly elections 2025 due in October-November.(X/@CEOBihar) The questions of citizenship and Aadhaar as proof came up after senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan pointed out that even though Aadhaar is an acceptable document as per the Representation of Peoples Act, the poll panel is not considering it valid for the Bihar SIR. At this, the SC bench asked the EC why. The EC's lawyer, Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, told the court: 'Aadhar Card cannot be used as proof of citizenship.' Also read: 'Half of Bihar could lose voting rights' Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia remarked: "… citizenship is an issue to be determined not by the Election Commission of India, but by the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs)." The matter is being heard by a bench comprising Justice Dhulia and Justice Joymala Bagchi. The EC lawyer cited Article 326 of the Constitution to say the poll panel has the powers to check for citizenship for voting rights. Also read: Supreme Court questions timing of Bihar voter list revision The SC bench then questioned the timing of the exercise, which began late June. The bench observed that if the EC decided to take away the voting right, then that person has to appeal against the decision and 'go through this entire rigmarole and thereby be denied of his right to vote in the ensuing election'. 'If you ask me for these documents…' 'Suppose I want a caste certificate… I show my Aadhaar card [and] I get a caste certificate based on that. So that is a document (caste certificate) accepted (for SIR) but not Aadhaar,' the bench remarked. When the EC's lawyer cited a relevant act to say Aadhaar could not be used as citizenship proof or domicile, the court said multiple laws had to be read together for complete understanding. On why 11 documents were being asked for, the EC said that Aadhaar is a proof of identity, while citizenship needed to be proved with a set of documents. Amid this argument, Justice Dhulia remarked: 'If you ask me for these documents, I myself cannot show you all these. Then with all your timelines... I am telling you the issues on the ground.' The question came back to the quick pace of the exercise. Just ahead of 2025 Bihar polls While the court observed 'nothing wrong in purging electoral rolls through an intensive exercise in order to see that non-citizens don't remain on the role,' it made a rhetorical remark too, 'But if you decide only a couple of months before a proposed election…' Justice Bagchi also said, 'My question is, why to link this process to an incoming election at all?' At this the EC lawyer insisted that no one would be deleted 'without notice or being heard', Live Law reported. Taking a break after this, the court summed up a part of the proceedings by asking three questions for the EC: one, about the EC's very authority to conduct a 'special intensive revision'; two, about the valid procedure, including what it can ask for; and then the timing of the exercise, just months ahead of the assembly polls. The hearing saw other key questions being raised, too, such as the importance of voter revision since the last one was carried out in 2003. Earlier, the petitioners against the 'intensive' exercise argued that it is wholly "arbitrary" and "discriminative". They pointed out in their pleas too, that the SIR makes voters who have been on the list for years also to re-verify themselves, and in some cases even their parents. Opposition politicians, some of whom are among the petitioners, have criticised the timing in particular. The hearing comes after the SC refused to immediately stay the SIR. What is the core challenge to Bihar SIR? Transparency group ADR and Swaraj Party's Yogendra Yadav have cited Article 32 of the Constitution while challenging the EC's notification. TMC MP Mahua Moitra is also among the petitioners. Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi are among the top lawyers leading the challenge. The petitions note that the identification process shifts the 'burden of proof' onto individual citizens, requiring fresh applications and documentary evidence of citizenship by July 25, 2025. Their argument is that given Bihar's high rates of migration and pvoerty, such requirements for documents dating back decades can disenfranchise millions. Political parties, particularly the Congress, RJD and those in opposition to the ruling BJP in Bihar, have alleged this could remove a large number of eligible people. Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav from Congress and RJD, respectively, held a protest against the exercise with a 'Bihar Bandh' call on Wednesday.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
KCET counselling 2025: Option entry begins at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the final seat matrix and opened the option entry portal, thereby starting the KCET 2025 counselling process. All of the required links and resources are now available to candidates through the official KEA website at KEA has given candidates the chance to download verification slips and amend their application information prior to opening the choice entry. The deadline for this window was July 4, 2025. A KCET 2025 verification slip, a necessary document needed to take part in the counselling process, was given to candidates who successfully finished this step. KCET 2025 Option Entry: How to fill? Step 1. Visit the official website at Step 2. Log in using the KCET number and password. Step 3. Download the verification slip (if not done already). Step 4. View the final seat matrix to explore available courses and colleges. Step 5. View the option entry link and prioritise choices in order of preference. KCET 2025 Counselling Process: How to do it? • Downloading of the KCET verification slip 2025 • Release of the final seat matrix and fee structure • KCET 2025 option entry for eligible/qualified candidates • Showcase of the KCET 2025 mock seat allotment result • Provision to alter the details • Release of the KCET 2025 first round seat allotment result. How to apply for the KCET 2025 Counselling Process? • Candidates have to verify and register at the KEA portal. • After the verification process, candidates have to participate in the option entry process, where they have to enter and lock their choices. • The KCET 2025 mock seat allotment list will be announced based on the choices submitted by the candidates and merit rank/scores. • After the announcement of the mock round result, the authorities will provide a chance to candidates to modify their choices. After the final submission, the KEA will declare the first round seat allotment result. KCET 2025 Counselling: Documents Checklist • KCET 2025 admit card • Class 10th and 12th marksheets • Kannada Medium and Rural Study Certificate (if applicable) • A study certificate from the school • Caste and income certificate from the school • KCET 2025 rank card • Aadhar Card (Identity Proof) • Special category certificates (like NCC, Sports, Defence, etc.). KCET 2025 Option Entry: Insights Candidates can now log in and choose their desired courses and colleges based on their KCET rankings, thanks to the opening of the choice entry window. Seat allocation will be greatly influenced by the option entry process, which enables students to prioritise and organise selections according to preference. The final seat matrix, which lists the number of seats available in each college and course taking part in KCET 2025, has also been made public by KEA to assist candidates in making well-informed judgments. Earlier, a preliminary seat matrix was distributed to give applicants a general idea and help them make their selections. What is the KCET 2025 option entry? The procedure by which qualified applicants select the colleges and courses they want to enrol in is known as the KCET 2025 option entry. Following the document verification phase, this is completed online using KEA's portal. Both the mock and final rounds of seat allocation will take these preferences into account. The KCET 2025 option entry link on the official website has been activated by the KEA. The first round of the KCET counselling 2025 process has begun.
