Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 27: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday reiterated that all major decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were taken unanimously by the full Commission, amid allegations of differences among its three members.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi held a meeting at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on September 26. The meeting came amid reports that Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections to several decisions relating to the SIR exercise and other electoral matters.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the ECI said the SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, covering all states and Union Territories, was approved unanimously by the Commission. It said the order, which began with Bihar and was subsequently extended to West Bengal and 30 other states and Union Territories, was upheld by the Supreme Court in its May 27, 2026 order.

The Commission also said the SIR schedules issued on October 27, 2025, for 12 states and Union Territories and on May 14, 2026, for another 19 states and Union Territories were approved unanimously.

The clarification followed a report by The Indian Express claiming that Sandhu and Joshi had formally recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period concerning various decisions and orders. The reported concerns included aspects of the SIR, deletion and addition of voters, changes to Form 6, electoral-roll data and the functioning of the EC's IT systems.

The ECI maintained that differing views and observations are part of institutional deliberations and do not necessarily amount to disagreement over final decisions. It said the reported internal notes represented only part of the decision-making process and that the final decisions of the Commission had been taken with the approval of all three commissioners.

On Form 6, which is used for enrolment of new voters, the Commission said the declaration attached to the form for the SIR process had been upheld by the Supreme Court. It clarified that outside the SIR period, the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would continue to apply.

The Commission also addressed reports concerning letters sent by Sandhu and Joshi to the Cabinet Secretary. It said the letters were not related to any policy decision of the Commission or its IT division, but concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the ECI. The work redistribution orders issued by the officer were not implemented, the Commission said, adding that oversight of the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never withdrawn.

As part of the decisions taken at Saturday's meeting, the ECI said voters who have received notices during the ongoing SIR over unmapped or logical discrepancies would not ordinarily have to appear personally before the Electoral Registration Officer. Booth-level officers will visit their homes to collect documents and upload them on the ECINet system for consideration by the ERO. Hearings will be held only in exceptional cases, preferably online, while an adult family member may attend on behalf of an elector when authorised.

The Commission further said that people whose names were left out during the SIR, including young and first-time voters, could apply for inclusion through the continuous updation process. Chief Electoral Officers, District Electoral Officers and Electoral Registration Officers have been directed to facilitate a special enrolment drive.

In Goa, the ECI said the Chief Electoral Officer had directed Booth-Level Officers to visit left-out voters and collect the necessary forms. Of the 97 voters identified as left out, 81 had already submitted Form 6 for inclusion, according to the Commission.

The ECI also announced that agendas would be circulated in advance for all Commission meetings and minutes would be issued. It said directions issued by the commissioners to poll officials would be followed meticulously.

The clarification drew support from the BJP. BJP leaders said the Commission's statement addressed allegations of internal discord and reaffirmed that SIR-related decisions had been taken collectively. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu also welcomed the clarification, saying it reaffirmed the credibility of constitutional institutions.

Opposition parties, however, continued to question aspects of the Commission's functioning. Congress leaders argued that the clarification did not adequately address their concerns over the reported objections, changes to Form 6 and issues surrounding voter additions and deletions.

The ECI's latest statement is its second clarification following reports about differences within the three-member poll panel. The Commission has maintained that internal observations are a normal part of deliberations, while its final decisions, including those concerning the nationwide SIR, were taken unanimously.