All decisions made about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, including the nationwide exercise, were unanimously accepted. The statement was made by the Election Commission of India (ECI) after a meeting between Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr S S Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi on 26th September (Saturday).
The official clarification followed reports in the media, particularly in The Indian Express, insisting on alleged disagreements inside the EC regarding the SIR of electoral records. The poll body also conveyed that its SIR order was upheld by the Supreme Court. Additionally, it announced steps to streamline the process for voters who get notices over discrepancies.
The formal release stated, “In recent months, the Commission has taken numerous decisions, including SIR across the country. The order for the SIR issued on 24.6.2025 for all the States/UTs, starting with Bihar, followed by West Bengal and 30 other States/UTs, was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The same has been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide its order dated 27.5.2026. The schedule for SIR for 12 States and UTs was issued on 27.10.2025, and those for 19 States/ UTs was issued on 14.05.2026 with the unanimous approval of the Commission.”
The EC likewise mentioned that the Supreme Court has affirmed the declaration that is attached to Form 6 for SIR and added that the forms required by the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 will be utilised for the non-SIR period.
Further debunking claims of internal differences, the EC then reiterated that the letter to the Cabinet Secretary addressed the work of an individual on deputation to the ECI rather than any policy issue. It asserted, “The letter to the Cabinet Secretary was not related to any policy matter of the Commission or IT division but related to the work of an officer on deputation to ECI. The work redistribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not actually implemented after the orders of the two Commissioners, and the oversight over the IT division by the DEC was never actually withdrawn.”
81 out of 97 voters in Goa included, deadlines extended for Delhi and Maharashtra
The Electoral Commission also referenced the accusations concerning the alleged deletion of eligible voters’ names from the final list, which has already been clarified by the CEO GOA and emphasised that “he has directed concerned BLOs to conduct house-to-house visits to left-out voters to collect their forms. 81 voters out of 97 have already filled Form 6 for inclusion.”
It also responded to the formal requests presented by the CEO Delhi and CEO Maharashtra, which sought an extension of the timeframe for the submission of claims and objections, accepting their submission.
The release stated, “In view of the request received from CEO Delhi, the period for filing claims and objections has been extended by the Commission till 30th October, 2026. The period of disposal of notices and claims & objections has been extended till 30th November 2026. Also, as per the request received from the CEO Maharashtra, the period for filing claims and objections in Maharashtra has been extended by the Commission till 12th October, 2026. The period of disposal of notices and claims & objections in Maharashtra has been extended till 10th November 2026.”
EC simplifies the process regarding discrepancies
The Commission also made the decision that electors will usually not be required to show up before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) if they get notices during the ongoing SIR about being unmapped or having logical errors.
It read, “In case of any person to whom notice has been issued during the ongoing SIR for being unmapped and logical discrepancies, BLOs will visit the homes of such persons for collection of documents and thereafter upload them on the ECINet, for decision by the ERO. Such persons need not be called for a hearing to ERO/AERO office. Only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, the hearing will be held preferably online. Any adult member of the family can be authorised by the elector to attend the hearing on their behalf, if required. Facilities for the online hearing to be strengthened.”
The EC also mentioned that DEOs (District Election Officers) shall set up an appropriate number of help desks/hold special camps for those living in night shelters, labour, the impoverished, the homeless, and others as needed.
It highlighted that twenty states and union territories, including West Bengal and Bihar, have completed SIR, assuring that anyone whose name was omitted during SIR or later, as well as anyone young or a first-time voter, may apply to the relevant ERO as their names will be added to the electoral rolls through the ongoing updating procedure. EC informed, “CEOs have been directed to facilitate the same. The CEOs, DEOs, and EROs will immediately launch a special drive for enrolment of these electors.”
According to the EC, field officers’ statutory authority grants them role-based access to the ECINET system. The ECINET will be reviewed by a committee led by the Senior Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) and comprising an independent expert from IIT/IIIT to ensure that it complies with the Acts and Rules. The committee will then present a report to the Commission.
EC outlined, “Various upgradations of the portal have already been made based on the inputs from State CEOs in the past few months. In case any further flexibility is required by the field officers, that will be made operational. Henceforth, all the new initiatives about IT modules and portals will be discussed in the Committee of Officers (COO) before approval by the Commission.”
The EC communicated that the agenda for every meeting will be distributed beforehand and its minutes will also be circulated. It added, “APARs (Annual Performance Appraisal Reports) of all the officers will be completed within the stipulated time frame, i.e., 31st December every year. Approval of the Commission will be taken for foreign trips of the officers. All directions issued by the Commissioners to the officers of the Commission shall be meticulously complied with.”
The EC earlier issued a statement countering the claims, including that of rift, peddled by the mainstream media, remarking that it is a multi-member constitutional body and that written notes, observations, technical suggestions and internal checks and balances are standard features of its functioning.
