SIR: Amid the ongoing discussion over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Election Commission has removed the additional SIR-related declaration from the online Form 6 in states and Union Territories where the SIR process has been completed. This comes after the Commission had clarified a few days earlier that this requirement would apply only during the SIR exercise.

Only Regular Form 6 After SIR

 

In states where the SIR has been completed, the additional declaration has been removed from the ECINET app and portal and from the respective Chief Electoral Officer portals. Applicants in these states will now have to fill only the statutory Form-6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, for inclusion in the electoral roll.

Declaration Still Available In States With SIR Underway

According to PTI, states and Union Territories where the SIR process is still underway, the additional declaration remains available on the ECINET portal. The declaration requires new applicants to provide details linking themselves, their parents or grandparents to electoral rolls prepared during an earlier intensive revision.

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The move came after a September 26 meeting of the full Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. After the meeting, the Commission said the additional declaration attached to Form 6 was meant specifically for SIR. It also said that outside the SIR period, the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would be used.

The decision came after The Indian Express reported that Sandhu and Joshi had objected on record at least 14 times over the previous 10 months to SIR-related decisions and orders. They had said that some of these decisions were issued without their knowledge or recommendation. However, in its statement, the ECI maintained that the orders related to SIR had unanimous approval of all three Election Commissioners.

What Is Form 6?

Form-6 is the statutory form used by eligible citizens to apply for inclusion in the electoral roll. It was earlier reported that changes related to the form had earlier led to objections from Election Commissioner Joshi. After the SIR-related declaration was added to the online Form-6 process on ECINET, Sandhu again raised an objection. He described the change as "unauthorised/illegal" and sought its removal.

The Election Commission, however, has maintained in its public statements that Form 6 itself was not amended. According to the Commission, the declaration was an additional requirement specifically for SIR.

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