The Election Commission of India on Saturday sought to put an end to reports of differences within the poll panel, holding a full commission meeting and issuing a detailed press note asserting that all key decisions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were taken unanimously.
Full commission meets at Nirvachan Sadan
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi met at the commission's headquarters, Nirvachan Sadan, in New Delhi. The commission released a press note accompanied by a photograph of the three commissioners, addressing allegations about its internal functioning, the SIR exercise, voter enrolment and its technology systems.
The clarification came days after a September 23 report in The Indian Express said Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections on multiple occasions to decisions and orders linked to the SIR exercise, triggering a political controversy with Opposition parties questioning the commission's functioning and demanding greater transparency.
Unanimous decisions, says EC
The commission maintained that its June 24, 2025 order launching the SIR across states and Union Territories was approved unanimously by all three commissioners, and that subsequent schedules for the exercise were also issued with unanimous approval. It further noted that the Supreme Court had upheld the original SIR order.
On Form 6, used for enrolment of new voters, the commission addressed concerns over a declaration introduced during the SIR process that requires applicants to establish linkage with the previous SIR through their parents' names. The commission said the declaration had been upheld by the Supreme Court, and clarified that outside the SIR exercise, forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 would continue to be used.
Goa voters and ECINET review
Responding to questions about 97 voters in Goa who were initially left out of the electoral rolls, the commission said Goa's Chief Electoral Officer had directed Booth Level Officers to conduct house-to-house visits and collect the necessary forms, with 81 of the 97 voters having already submitted Form 6 for inclusion.
On ECINET, the commission said field officials receive role-based access to electoral-roll databases in line with their statutory powers, and announced a review of the portal by a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner along with an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT.
Internal procedures tightened
The commission also clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the redistribution of work involving an officer on deputation, and not any policy decision of the commission or its IT division.
As part of measures to strengthen internal procedures, the commission said meeting agendas would be circulated in advance and minutes issued afterwards, and that directions issued by commissioners to officials would be complied with meticulously. It also extended SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra.
Sources:
IANS: CEC Gyanesh Kumar, ECs Sandhu-Joshi meet; Form 6, SIR decisions clarified
Power Corridors: Poll Body Issues Point-By-Point Clarification on SIR Row
Full commission meets at Nirvachan Sadan
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi met at the commission's headquarters, Nirvachan Sadan, in New Delhi. The commission released a press note accompanied by a photograph of the three commissioners, addressing allegations about its internal functioning, the SIR exercise, voter enrolment and its technology systems.
The clarification came days after a September 23 report in The Indian Express said Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections on multiple occasions to decisions and orders linked to the SIR exercise, triggering a political controversy with Opposition parties questioning the commission's functioning and demanding greater transparency.
Unanimous decisions, says EC
The commission maintained that its June 24, 2025 order launching the SIR across states and Union Territories was approved unanimously by all three commissioners, and that subsequent schedules for the exercise were also issued with unanimous approval. It further noted that the Supreme Court had upheld the original SIR order.
On Form 6, used for enrolment of new voters, the commission addressed concerns over a declaration introduced during the SIR process that requires applicants to establish linkage with the previous SIR through their parents' names. The commission said the declaration had been upheld by the Supreme Court, and clarified that outside the SIR exercise, forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 would continue to be used.
Goa voters and ECINET review
Responding to questions about 97 voters in Goa who were initially left out of the electoral rolls, the commission said Goa's Chief Electoral Officer had directed Booth Level Officers to conduct house-to-house visits and collect the necessary forms, with 81 of the 97 voters having already submitted Form 6 for inclusion.
On ECINET, the commission said field officials receive role-based access to electoral-roll databases in line with their statutory powers, and announced a review of the portal by a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner along with an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT.
Internal procedures tightened
The commission also clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the redistribution of work involving an officer on deputation, and not any policy decision of the commission or its IT division.
As part of measures to strengthen internal procedures, the commission said meeting agendas would be circulated in advance and minutes issued afterwards, and that directions issued by commissioners to officials would be complied with meticulously. It also extended SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra.
Sources:
IANS: CEC Gyanesh Kumar, ECs Sandhu-Joshi meet; Form 6, SIR decisions clarified
Power Corridors: Poll Body Issues Point-By-Point Clarification on SIR Row
