EC says nationwide SIR order had unanimous approval of all 3 commissioners

The Election Commission on Saturday said its order for conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across all states and Union territories was issued with the unanimous approval of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, amid reports of differences within the poll panel.

In a statement approved by the full Commission, the EC also said the changes made to Form 6, used for inclusion of names in the voters' list, had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

In a statement, the poll panel said it had taken several decisions in recent months, including the SIR exercise across the country.ALL SIR ORDERS HAD UNANIMOUS APPROVAL

The Commission said it had taken several decisions in recent months, including the nationwide SIR.

It said the order issued on June 24, 2025, for carrying out the SIR across all states and Union territories, beginning with Bihar and followed by West Bengal and 30 other states and Union territories, was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission.

The EC added that the Supreme Court upheld the order through its May 27, 2026, order.

According to the Commission, the SIR schedule for 12 states and Union territories was issued on October 27, 2025, while the schedule for another 19 states and Union territories was issued on May 14, 2026. Both were issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission.

The EC said the final number of electors would be known only after the final publication of electoral rolls in the remaining 12 states under Phase III.EC CLARIFIES FORM 6 POSITION

On Form 6, the Commission said the declaration attached to the form for the SIR had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

"The declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. For the non-SIR period, the Forms applicable as per Rules (the Registration of Electors Rules 1960) will be used," the statement said.

The clarification comes after reports of objections from Sandhu and Joshi over changes to Form 6, which is used by people seeking inclusion in the electoral rolls. The Indian Express had reported that the revised form included questions linked to the last SIR.CABINET SECRETARY LETTERS

The poll panel also addressed letters sent by Sandhu and Joshi to the Cabinet Secretary.

The EC said the letters were not related to any policy matter of the Commission or its IT division. Instead, it said, they concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the Election Commission.

The Commission said work redistribution orders issued by the officer concerned were not actually implemented after intervention by the two commissioners.

It also said oversight of the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never actually withdrawn.

The clarification comes a day after The Indian Express reported that the two commissioners had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders related to the SIR and other aspects of the poll panel's functioning.MEETINGS, DIRECTIONS TO OFFICERS

The Commission said agendas for all its meetings would be circulated in advance and minutes would be issued.

It also said all directions issued by the commissioners to officers of the poll body would be followed meticulously.

The full Commission met on September 26 amid the reported differences involving the three commissioners.GOA VOTERS AND FORM 6

The EC also gave an update on voters left out of the electoral roll in Goa.

It said the Chief Electoral Officer of Goa had directed Booth Level Officers to conduct house-to-house visits to collect forms from voters who had been left out.

Of 97 such voters, 81 had already filled Form 6 for inclusion in the electoral roll, the Commission said.

The poll body further said people who had been issued notices during the SIR did not need to appear for a personal hearing except in exceptional cases.

The Commission said differences of view and observations were a normal part of institutional deliberations, while maintaining that its orders had full legal backing and followed statutory procedure.- Ends