The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the publication of draft electoral rolls in Bihar, saying that it will deliver a final verdict on the petitions challenging the Election Commission's special intensive revision (SIR) process.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said that a decision on the matter will be made on July 29, the scheduled date for the final hearing.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for an NGO, urged the Supreme Court to impose an interim stay on the publication of draft rolls, arguing they should not be finalised while legal challenges are still pending.

The bench observed that the last order of the top court noted the petitioners not pressing for an interim relief, and, therefore, it couldn't be done now, and the matter would be interpreted once and for all. It asked the poll panel to continue accepting Aadhaar and voter ID for the SIR exercise in Bihar in compliance with its order, saying both documents had a "presumption of genuineness".

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The court said it prima facie agreed with the order of the top court, and the EC accepted in its counter affidavit that Aadhaar, voter cards and ration cards were required to be accepted. "As far as ration cards are concerned we can say they can be forged easily but Aadhaar and voter cards have some sanctity and have presumption of genuineness. You continue accepting these documents,” the bench said.

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