Politics · India · 3 hrs ago
Supreme Court says deleted Maharashtra voters can use Form 6 without prosecution
The Supreme Court said deleted voters in Maharashtra can use Form 6 without facing prosecution.
The form is normally used by people registering as new voters, and some feared that former voters could be accused of making a false declaration if they used it to get back on the rolls.
The case concerns names removed during a review of Maharashtra’s electoral rolls.
Lawyers told the court that residents in Mumbai and Pune had been marked absent after leaving homes during redevelopment projects.
The court said genuine voters left off the final list may get more time to submit documents.
Maharashtra’s final electoral roll is due to be published on November 6, while the deadline for claims and objections is October 26.
The court will consider the need for extra time on November 5.
It also asked the Election Commission to respond to the challenge before that hearing.
The Supreme Court said voters whose names were deleted from Maharashtra’s electoral rolls will not be prosecuted for using Form 6 to seek re-registration.
The court gave the assurance on October 26 while hearing a plea challenging voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision.
Senior advocate Aravind Datar said Form 6 is intended for new voters and argued that deleted voters could face prosecution for declaring themselves fresh voters.
The court said it could give genuine voters more time to submit documents if they remained excluded from the final roll.
The court asked the Election Commission to respond to the plea by November 5.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Surya Kant, and voters whose names were deleted from Maharashtra’s electoral rolls.
- What
- The court said deleted voters would not be prosecuted for using Form 6 to seek re-registration.
- When
- October 26, 2026.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India; the hearing was before the Supreme Court.
- Why
- The court was hearing a plea challenging voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision and concerns about using Form 6 to restore names.
Aravind Datar
Supreme Court
Form 6
Aravind Datar
Datar argued the form is for new voters and that deleted voters could face prosecution for declaring themselves fresh voters.
Supreme Court
The court said no one would be prosecuted for using Form 6 to seek re-entry on the electoral roll.
Time to restore names
Aravind Datar
Datar sought more time for voters to seek inclusion.
Supreme Court
The court said it could grant genuine voters extra time to submit documents if they remained excluded from the final roll.
The Supreme Court orally assured voters they would not be prosecuted for using Form 6 to seek re-registration.
The court asked the Election Commission to respond to the plea by November 5.
The court is due to consider the plea and whether extra time may be needed for voters seeking inclusion.
The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published, according to the Times of India.
- Form 6
- Application to register as a new voter
- Deadline for claims and objections
- October 26, 2026
- Court response deadline for Election Commission
- November 5
- Scheduled final-roll publication
- November 6, according to the Times of India
- Cities cited for redevelopment-related voter deletions
- Mumbai and Pune
3 sources
What people are saying
No one will be prosecuted for filling Form 6 seeking re-entering of their names in voter lists.
Do not worry. Nobody will be prosecuted.
Pre-existing voters misrepresenting themselves as fresh voters is an offence and liable for prosecution