Supreme Court Allows Aadhaar as Valid Voter ID Proof in Bihar Election 2025: Key Details You Must Know

The Supreme Court of India has made a major ruling ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections, directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept Aadhaar as the 12th valid document for voter identity proof in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Consequently, Aadhaar will now be treated at par with the existing 11 identity documents already accepted by the poll body.

Aadhaar Accepted for Voter ID Verification in Bihar

The top court clarified that Aadhaar will now serve as valid proof of identity and residence during the electoral roll revision process. However, it cannot be considered as proof of citizenship, a big decision taken by the bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.

The case came up because some election officials were not accepting Aadhaar, even though they were told to earlier. The Supreme Court has now made it clear again that Aadhaar must be accepted so that real voters don't get left out unfairly.

ECI Ordered to Issue Clear Instructions

The Supreme Court has told the Election Commission to quickly send out formal instructions to all election officers in Bihar. These instructions will make it compulsory to accept Aadhaar cards during the voter list update. At the same time, officials must also check that the Aadhaar cards are genuine to stop any misuse or fake entries. The election commission has been asked to fix the problems people faced when their Aadhaar was earlier rejected and will make the voter list process more fair & transparent.

Background of the Case

The issue went to the Supreme Court because some election officials were not accepting Aadhaar during the Bihar voter list update, even though it was already allowed earlier. People who complained said this was like ignoring the court's past orders. Now, with the new ruling, Aadhaar has officially been added as the 12th valid ID for voters, along with documents like passports, driving licences, and PAN cards.

This will make the voter list update in Bihar easier, since Aadhaar is the most common and widely available ID, especially in villages. It means more people can get enrolled or update their details without hassle. At the same time, the Supreme Court also made it clear that Aadhaar can only be used to prove who you are and where you live, not to prove citizenship. This keeps voting rights safe from any misuse.

Bihar Assembly Election Date & Time

The Bihar Assembly elections 2025 are scheduled to be held in October or November 2025, likely in two or three phases. The exact dates have not been officially announced yet by the Election Commission of India. The current Bihar Assembly term ends on November 22nd, so the entire election process, including voting and counting, will be completed before that date.