The Supreme Court on Friday refused to extend the September 1 deadline set by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for filing claims and objections under Bihar’s Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The apex court directed all political parties to actively participate in the process through their authorized representatives.

Recording the Commission’s submission, the Court noted that extending the deadline could create an “endless process” and jeopardize the schedule outlined under the rules. Political parties were allowed to submit their responses to the notes already issued by the ECI.

The ECI informed the Court that out of 2.74 crore voters included in the draft rolls, 99.5% had submitted their eligibility documents, while notices were being issued within seven days to those with incomplete paperwork. The Commission stressed that any extension could disrupt the smooth conduct of the SIR and delay the finalization of electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections.

Justice Surya Kant clarified that Aadhaar can be accepted strictly as proof of identity but not citizenship, in line with Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act and earlier judgments. Advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that some claims supported by Aadhaar were being rejected, but the Court reiterated that Aadhaar is valid among the 11 recognized documents.

Petitioners, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), requested an extension citing large-scale exclusions. Between August 22 and 27, claims nearly doubled from 84,305 to 1,78,948. They also alleged a lack of transparency, claiming that forms were not uploaded and deletions were prioritized over additions.