ECI full commission meeting: SIR, Form 6 and ECINET decisions clarified
Synopsis
India's Election Commission held an emergency full-panel meeting to deny internal rifts — but its own press note announced new safeguards on agendas, minutes, and compliance, implicitly acknowledging that past procedures fell short. The move comes as the Supreme Court has backed the SIR order, yet political pressure on the poll body shows no sign of easing.
Key Takeaways
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi held a full commission meeting at Nirvachan Sadan on 26 September 2026 .
The ECI said its 24 June 2025 SIR launch order and subsequent schedules were approved unanimously by all three commissioners.
The Supreme Court has upheld both the original SIR order and the Form 6 declaration requiring parental linkage.
Of 97 voters initially excluded in Goa , 81 had submitted Form 6 for re-inclusion by the time of the statement.
A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and an independent IIT/IIIT expert will review the ECINET portal.
SIR deadlines have been extended in Delhi and Maharashtra ; the ECI will now circulate meeting agendas in advance and issue minutes thereafter.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday, 26 September 2026, convened a full commission meeting at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi to address reports of internal disagreements within the poll panel. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was joined by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi for the meeting, after which the Commission issued a detailed press note — accompanied by a photograph of all three commissioners together — to counter allegations regarding its internal functioning.
What Triggered the Meeting
The gathering came days after a report published on 23 September by The Indian Express alleged that Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections to several decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The reports set off a wider political storm, with Opposition parties questioning the Commission's functioning and demanding greater transparency in its internal processes. This is the first time in recent memory that a full commission meeting has been held specifically to address such public allegations of intra-panel friction.
SIR Order and Form 6 Clarifications
The ECI maintained that its 24 June 2025 order launching the SIR across states and Union Territories was approved unanimously by all three commissioners. Subsequent schedules related to the exercise were also said to have received unanimous approval. Notably, the Commission pointed out that the Supreme Court had upheld the original SIR order.
On Form 6 — used for enrolment of new voters — the EC addressed concerns over a declaration introduced during the SIR process requiring applicants to establish their linkage with the previous SIR through their parents' names. The Commission confirmed that this declaration had also been upheld by the Supreme Court. It clarified that outside the SIR exercise, forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would continue to be used as before.
Goa Voter Exclusion and ECINET Review
The Commission addressed questions surrounding 97 voters in Goa who had initially been left out of the electoral rolls. It said the Chief Electoral Officer, Goa, had directed Booth Level Officers to conduct house-to-house visits and collect the necessary forms. Of the 97 voters, 81 had already submitted Form 6 for inclusion by the time of the statement.
On concerns regarding ECINET — the Commission's electoral-roll portal — the EC said field officials receive role-based access in accordance with their statutory powers. It announced that a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT would review the portal's functioning. This comes amid broader scrutiny of the Commission's technology infrastructure during the SIR exercise.
Internal Procedures Strengthened
As part of measures to bolster internal accountability, the ECI said agendas for Commission meetings would henceforth be circulated in advance, with minutes issued thereafter. The Commission also stated that directions issued by commissioners to officials would be complied with 'meticulously' — a formulation that, critics argue, acknowledges that compliance had been a concern.
The EC also clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the redistribution of work involving an officer on deputation, rather than any policy stance regarding the Commission or its IT division. Additionally, the Commission extended SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra, while reiterating that its major decisions had been taken collectively and unanimously.
What Comes Next
The ECINET review committee is expected to include independent technical expertise, signalling the Commission's intent to insulate its digital infrastructure from political controversy. With SIR deadlines now extended in two key states, the focus shifts to whether the revised timelines are met — and whether the Opposition's calls for greater transparency will prompt any further institutional changes at the poll panel.
Point of View
Formal minutes, and meticulous compliance with commissioners' directions, the ECI is acknowledging that these basics were absent before. That the panel felt compelled to photograph its own meeting and release it publicly speaks to how serious the credibility damage has been. The deeper concern is structural — an Election Commission where two commissioners reportedly raised objections to flagship decisions is a Commission whose collective authority is in question ahead of major state elections. The ECINET review by an IIT expert is a sound step, but the harder question is whether the Commission's reformed procedures will outlast the current political moment or revert once media attention moves on.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Election Commission hold a full commission meeting on 26 September?
The Election Commission convened the meeting to address media reports alleging internal differences between the three commissioners over decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Commission issued a detailed press note denying the differences and clarifying its positions on SIR, Form 6, and ECINET.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is an exercise launched by the ECI on 24 June 2025 to thoroughly revise and update electoral rolls across states and Union Territories. The Commission says the order was approved unanimously by all three commissioners, a position upheld by the Supreme Court.
What changes were made to Form 6 during the SIR process?
During the SIR, a declaration was introduced requiring new voter applicants to establish their linkage with the previous SIR through their parents' names. The Supreme Court has upheld this declaration. Outside the SIR exercise, the standard forms under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, continue to apply.
What happened to the 97 voters excluded from the electoral rolls in Goa?
The Chief Electoral Officer, Goa, directed Booth Level Officers to conduct house-to-house visits to reach the 97 affected voters. Of those, 81 had already submitted Form 6 for inclusion in the electoral rolls by the time the Commission made its statement.
What steps is the ECI taking to improve internal procedures?
The Commission has announced that meeting agendas will be circulated in advance and formal minutes will be issued after each meeting. It has also said that directions from commissioners to officials will be followed meticulously. Additionally, a committee including an independent IIT or IIIT expert will review the ECINET portal.
