NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India provided crucial guidance on Wednesday regarding the use of Class 10 or Madhyamik exam admit cards during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The Court clarified that these admit cards can only serve as supplementary documentation for identity verification when coupled with pass certificates.

The ruling was delivered by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, in response to concerns voiced by Senior Advocate D.S. Naidu regarding the use of admit cards as standalone identity documents. While the Court had previously permitted the use of these admit cards alongside other accepted forms of ID such as Aadhaar, the new clarification specifies that they must not be relied on individually.

Justice Bagchi remarked during the proceedings, “Judges from West Bengal are well-aware of the data available on Madhyamik admit cards. They will aid the Election Commission in verifying identities. However, a pass certificate does not disclose one's date of birth or father's name, highlighting its limited value.”

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan raised another valid point concerning individuals who may possess Madhyamik admit cards without having passed the examination. This prompted the Court to reinforce that Class 10 admit cards must be accompanied by valid pass certificates for identity verification purposes during the SIR.

In a detailed order, the Court outlined that any documents specified in paragraph 3(iii) of its earlier ruling dated February 24, 2026, which were not submitted by February 15, must be presented to the presiding judicial officers by 5 PM the following day. The ruling underscores the importance of maintaining integrity in electoral processes, ensuring that voting eligibility can be accurately verified through reliable documentation.