Election Commission of India’s Counter Affidavit on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar

• The affidavit, 88 pages long, addresses the constitutionality of the SIR exercise in Bihar.

• The affidavit argues that the SIR process shifts citizenship proof on all existing electors registered by the ECI.

• The ECI’s refusal to accept Aadhaar and ration cards as eligibility documents complicates the ongoing electoral revision.

• The affidavit invokes Article 326 and Section 15 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which mandates the preparation of electoral rolls under the ECI’s supervision.

• The affidavit rejects the Supreme Court’s advice to include Aadhaar card, the Elector’s Photo Identity card (EPIC), and ration card in the SIR exercise list.

• The affidavit also criticizes the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2003, which introduced the contrived citizenship criteria in SIR 2025.

• The ECI’s counter affidavit aims to counter criticisms regarding the exclusionary nature of the citizenship test.