Relief for democracy: Cong on SC advice on Bihar voter-list revision

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday said the Supreme Court's suggestion that the Elec tion Commission (EC) should allow Aadhaar cards, voter-ID cards and ration cards in the Special Intensive Re vision of the electoral rolls in Bihar has come as a "relief for democracy" and is a "significant advance" in the case. Congress general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal pointed out that the apex court will hear the case again later this month, while expressing hope that the EC will go with the court's suggestion.

"Basically, it is a relief for de mocracy. The case is again fixed for the 28th of this month," Venu gopal told reporters, when asked about the Supreme Court's sug gestion. He said the court asking the EC to allow Aadhaar cards, ration cards and voter-ID cards for the identification of voters during the special exercise is in itself a big thing.

"That itself is the biggest thing coming from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has given its view through that to ensure that Aadhaar cards, ration cards and election-ID cards should be part of a verification process in a demo He said the court asking the EC to allow Aadhaar, ration cards and voter-ID cards as identification is in itself a big thing. cratic set up.

I think the EC will go with that suggestion of the Su preme Court. Let us wait for that," the Congress leader said. Senior spokesper son of the party Ab hishek Singhvi, who is the lead counsel in the Supreme Court for eight political parties as also for Trinamool Congress (TMC) lead er Mahua Moitra and the People's Union for Civil Liber ties (PUCL) in the matter, said he will not elaborate on the merits of the case as it is sub-judice.

"Suffice it to say that after ex tensive arguments, the Supreme Court has clearly suggested that three documents, namely Aad haar, voter-ID and ration cards, be also con sidered by the EC in the process of enumera tion. Hitherto they were al leged by us to be exclud ed all over Bihar. "This is a significant ad vance.

All other merits remain open and time for reply and rejoin der has been given till the end of July," he said. On the main issue, Singhvi said their contentions are significant and will be considered by the court on a later date.

"Those contentions include the important point that for the first time, the presumption of eligibil ity and valid voter registration has been reversed by the EC by put ting all electors already existing on the rolls after 2003 in a state of suspended animation, unless they prove the validity of their status," he noted.

The Congress leader said fur thermore, it was argued in the court that the status was to be proved principally by a recourse to the birth certificates either of the person concerned or of any or both parents. "It was also argued that on citi zenship issues and determination thereof, the EC had no jurisdic tion. These and other substantive points will be considered by the court on the next date of hearing after the pleadings are complete. It is an ongoing sub-judice exer cise," Singhvi said.

The apex court on Thursday al lowed the EC to continue with its SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling it a "constitutional mandate". A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi, how ever, questioned the timing of the move, besides offering its prima facie view that Aadhaar cards, voter-ID cards and ration cards could be considered during the exercise. (PTI)