ECI Denies Unilateral Action: SIR Decisions Were Unanimous, Tells SC
Election Commission denies allegations of unilateral action by CEC Gyanesh Kumar in SIR process, filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has moved the Supreme Court to defend its internal decision-making process, asserting that all actions related to the SIR process (Special Intensive Revision) were taken unanimously. In a formal affidavit, the Commission has dismissed claims that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) acted alone, insisting that the leadership worked as a cohesive unit.
CEC Did Not Act Alone
The ECI specifically addressed allegations targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stating that he did not act unilaterally. The Commission clarified that the directives issued in June 2025, October 2025, and May 2026 were not the result of a single person's will but were approved collectively by the CEC and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
To further clarify its internal workings, the ECI noted that any observations or suggestions written on files during the deliberation process should not be mistaken for final decisions. The Commission maintained that all final calls were made in strict accordance with Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.
Clarification on Voter Registration and Form 6
Addressing concerns over voter registration, the ECI has made it clear that there have been no changes to Form 6. The Commission pointed out that the authority to amend such forms rests solely with the central government.
However, acknowledging that the online application interface may have caused some confusion, the ECI announced a technical update. As of October 21, 2026, the online Form 6 application and the SIR declaration will be presented as two separate components to ensure clarity for the users.
Strict Protocols for Voter Lists
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to the integrity of the electoral rolls, stating that no additions, deletions, or modifications will be made to voter lists without formal orders from the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). To handle cases where records are missing, the ECI outlined the following protocol:
- Booth Level Officers (BLO) will conduct physical house visits to verify necessary documents.
- Personal hearings at ERO or AERO offices will be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
- In cases where a hearing is mandatory, it will be conducted online.
Expert Audit and Legal Battle
In a move to ensure transparency and legal compliance, the ECI revealed that it established a specialized committee on October 14, 2026. This committee, comprising experts from IIT Bombay and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been tasked with auditing the ECINet system and reviewing the legal compliance of the SIR process.
This legal battle stems from petitions filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition figures, who have challenged the working methods of the CEC. The ECI has requested the Supreme Court to dismiss these petitions, arguing that the allegations are based on unverified media reports rather than facts.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter on October 27, 2026.