1 day ago
Election Commission Removes SIR Declaration From Online Form 6
The Election Commission changed an online form used by people who want to become voters.
It removed an extra declaration about older voter lists in places where a special voter-list review has finished.
The declaration had asked about the applicant’s name and the names of their parents or grandparents.
People in those areas now need to submit only the regular Form 6.
That form is set out in rules from 1960.
The extra requirement still applies where the special review is continuing.
Two Election Commissioners reportedly objected to changing the form without changing the rules.
The Commission has also created an expert panel to check whether its online system follows the law.
The Election Commission removed the additional Special Intensive Revision declaration from online Form 6 in states and Union Territories where the exercise has concluded.
The change was made on the ECINET portal four days after the Commission said the additional requirement would apply only during SIR exercises.
The declaration asked applicants whether their names or those of their parents or grandparents appeared in earlier SIR electoral rolls.
Applicants in areas where SIR has ended must now submit only the statutory Form 6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
The additional declaration remains required in states and Union Territories where the revision is still underway, amid objections from two Election Commissioners over altering the form.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India, including Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, who reportedly raised objections.
- What
- The Commission removed the additional Special Intensive Revision declaration from online Form 6 where the revision exercise has concluded.
- Where
- On the ECINET portal in states and Union Territories where the SIR exercise has concluded; the declaration remains in areas where it is ongoing.
- When
- On Wednesday, four days after the Commission announced that the additional requirement would apply only during SIR exercises.
- Why
- The Commission said statutory forms would be used during non-SIR periods, meaning applicants in completed areas must use the Form 6 prescribed by the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Commission Decision
Reported Objections
Use of the additional declaration
Commission Decision
The Election Commission limited the additional declaration to periods and areas where the Special Intensive Revision exercise is underway, and removed it where the exercise has concluded.
Reported Objections
Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly argued that the statutory Form 6 could not be modified without amending the relevant rules.
Decision-making process
Commission Decision
The Commission announced that statutory forms would be used during non-SIR periods and created an expert panel to review ECINET's compliance with laws and rules.
Reported Objections
The Indian Express reported that the two Commissioners recorded objections to SIR-related decisions on multiple occasions, raising questions about the Commission's internal decision-making process.
Key facts
- Application
- Online Form 6, the statutory form for applying for inclusion in electoral rolls
- Removed requirement
- The additional Special Intensive Revision declaration
- Declaration details
- Applicants indicated whether their names or those of their parents or grandparents appeared in earlier SIR electoral rolls
- Portal
- ECINET
- Applicable form after SIR
- The statutory Form 6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
- Continuing requirement
- The additional declaration remains in states and Union Territories where SIR is still underway
- Related review
- The Election Commission set up an expert panel to review ECINET's compliance with laws and rules
Sources
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