Bengal SIR: Class 10 admit cards with pass certificates can be used for verification, says SC
The clarification came after an advocate raised concerns about whether admit cards could be allowed as a standalone identity document.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday clarified that Class 10 admit cards issued by the West Bengal education board can only be used as verification documents during the special intensive revision of voter rolls in the state if they are submitted with the pass certificate, Bar and Bench reported.
On Tuesday, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said that Aadhaar cards, admit cards from Class 10 and passing certificates would be considered as eligibility proof during the voter roll revision.
The clarification on Wednesday came after an advocate raised concerns about whether admit cards could be allowed as a standalone identity document, according to PTI.
“Judges from West Bengal [who have been engaged to expedite the voter roll revision exercise] are fully aware of the data available in the Class 10 admit card,” the court said. “That is why we said it will help the Election Commission and anyone verifying the document.”
West Bengal is among the 12 states and Union Territories where the special intensive revision of electoral rolls is underway.
The state’s draft electoral rolls were published on December 16. They showed that more than 58 lakh voters were removed after being marked dead, shifted or absent.
The deletion from the draft roll is provisional and citizens can file claims and objections against the removal of their names.
On February 10, the Election Commission extended the deadline for hearing responses to the notices to February 14. The date for publishing the final voter list had also been moved to February 28.
The Assembly elections in the state are expected to be held in April or May.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court allowed judges from Odisha and Jharkhand to also be deployed to decide on the claims and objections raised during the process.