The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused each other of tampering with electoral rolls before the Delhi Assembly elections.
This has brought the focus back on linking voter IDs/Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) with Aadhaar numbers.
History of the Proposal
Launch of NERPAP (2015): The Election Commission (EC) initiated the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Program (NERPAP) to address duplicate entries in electoral rolls.
EPIC data was linked with the Aadhaar database, with over 300 million voters linked in three months.
Supreme Court's Interim Order (August 2015):The Court ruled that Aadhaar use should only be mandatory for welfare schemes and PAN linking, leading to the discontinuation of NERPAP.
Puttaswamy Judgment (September 2018): Upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act.
Amendments to RP Act and Rules (December 2021): Parliament amended the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 to allow EPIC-Aadhaar linking.
Providing Aadhaar was voluntary, as other documents like PAN card, Driving Licence, or Passport could also be submitted.
Current Status and Legal Challenges:
In September 2023, the EC informed the Supreme Court that Aadhaar submission is not mandatory.
However, Forms 6 and 6B still request Aadhaar details without reflecting the voluntary nature.
Voters must declare they do not possess an Aadhaar number to avoid submitting it.
Pros of EPIC-Aadhaar Linkage
Eliminating Duplicate Entries: Helps maintain accurate electoral rolls by identifying and removing duplicates.
Over 650 million Aadhaar numbers have already been linked.
Cons of EPIC-Aadhaar Linkage
Errors in Aadhaar Database: Even small errors could lead to wrongful rejection or deletion from electoral rolls.
Aadhaar as Proof of Residence, Not Citizenship: Aadhaar linkage cannot filter out non-citizens from the electoral roll
Privacy Concerns: Electoral rolls are widely shared with political parties, raising concerns about misuse, even if Aadhaar details are linked at the backend.
The Way Forward
Reinforcing Public Confidence: Efforts to link EPIC with Aadhaar must focus on gaining public trust through transparency.
Educating Voters: Launch awareness campaigns about the benefits of EPIC-Aadhaar linkage in cleaning up electoral rolls.
Address concerns about privacy and ensure voters’ secrecy remains uncompromised.
Updating Forms: Forms 6 and 6B should be updated to clearly state that providing Aadhaar is not mandatory
Ensuring Privacy and Accuracy: Safeguards must be implemented to prevent misuse of Aadhaar-linked electoral data.
Address errors in the Aadhaar database to avoid wrongful exclusions.
This comprehensive approach can ensure that EPIC-Aadhaar linkage strengthens democracy while maintaining voters’ rights and confidence.
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