54 mins ago
Former Minister Alleges Election Roll Revision Violates Law
RK Singh says the Election Commission is handling a voter-list review illegally.
The review is called a special intensive revision, or SIR.
He says the law allows this kind of review only in certain places and situations.
He also says voter names may have been removed before people were properly checked.
Singh questioned changes to forms used to add or remove voters.
He further alleged that some objections to voters’ names were submitted in large numbers with political help.
The Election Commission says disagreements among its members are normal during decision-making.
The Supreme Court has upheld the review but said the commission cannot decide whether someone is an Indian citizen.
Former Union minister RK Singh accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his colleagues of violating election law through the nationwide special intensive revision.
Singh argued that Section 21 permits such revisions only in specific constituencies and for reasons recorded in writing.
He alleged that Gyanesh Kumar improperly changed Form 6, centralized electoral-roll revisions, and oversaw voter deletions before verification.
Singh also questioned bulk objections filed through Form 7 and suggested that political actors may have coordinated them.
The Election Commission said internal disagreements are a normal part of deliberations, while the Supreme Court has upheld the exercise’s legality but limited the commission’s role in determining citizenship.
- Who
- Former Union minister RK Singh made the allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission.
- What
- Singh alleged that the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, changes to voter forms, centralized processing, and voter deletions violated the law.
- Where
- The allegations concern electoral rolls across India, including processes reported in West Bengal and Goa.
- When
- Singh made the allegations on Monday; the SIR has been underway since June 2025.
- Why
- Singh said the revision exceeded the authority granted by election law and could disenfranchise eligible voters.
Critics of the revision
Election Commission’s position
Legality and scope
Critics of the revision
RK Singh said a nationwide SIR is illegal because Section 21 allows such action only in specific constituencies or parts of constituencies, with reasons recorded in writing.
Election Commission’s position
The Supreme Court upheld the general SIR, although it said the Election Commission cannot determine whether a person is an Indian citizen.
Changes to voter forms
Critics of the revision
Singh alleged that Gyanesh Kumar added an appendix to Form 6 without authorization and against the views of the other election commissioners.
Election Commission’s position
The Election Commission said the declaration attached to Form 6 for the revision exercise had been upheld by the Supreme Court and later said the regular version would be used outside the SIR period.
Internal disagreements and administration
Critics of the revision
Singh and reported objections by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised concerns about centralized electoral-roll databases, bulk Form 7 objections, and voter deletions before verification.
Election Commission’s position
The Election Commission said operational questions and differing views during draft stages are standard administrative practice and that focusing on selected internal notes gives only part of the picture.
Key facts
- Main accuser
- RK Singh, a former Union minister
- Election official named
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Exercise
- Special intensive revision of electoral rolls
- Relevant law
- Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
- Forms discussed
- Form 6 for registering voters and Form 7 for objections to voter inclusion
- Supreme Court position
- The court upheld the general SIR but said the Election Commission cannot decide whether a person is an Indian citizen
- Commission response
- The Election Commission said differing internal views are a normal part of institutional deliberation
Quotes
RK Singh
Former Union minister and former Union home secretary
“The only authority designated by law to add or delete names and publish the electoral rolls is the electoral registration officer.”
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“Deleting voters names before verification is a heinous offence, and Gyanesh Kumar is guilty thereof.”
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Sources
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