ECI tells Supreme Court: Form 6 unchanged, SIR orders don't amend electoral rolls
Synopsis
The Election Commission has told the Supreme Court that Form 6 — the gateway document for electoral roll inclusion — was never touched by its SIR orders. The accompanying declaration is a separate, facilitative instrument. With the apex court now set to rule, the verdict could redraw the boundary between the ECI's operational powers and the Centre's exclusive authority to amend statutory election forms.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court on 26 October 2026 , rejecting claims that Form 6 was amended through SIR orders.
The ECI stated that Form 6 can only be amended by the Central Government under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 .
The SIR declaration is a separate document designed to introduce a mapping mechanism linking applicants to earlier electoral rolls.
Three SIR orders — dated 24 June 2025 , 27 October 2025 , and 14 May 2026 — were passed unanimously by the three-member Commission under Article 324 .
The ECI also separated Form 6 and the SIR declaration in the online interface to align digital and physical application procedures.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has told the Supreme Court that Form 6 — the statutory form prescribed for inclusion of names in electoral rolls — has not been amended through its orders for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, firmly rejecting a petitioner's contention to the contrary. The clarification came in a counter-affidavit filed before the apex court on 26 October 2026.
The Core Dispute
The petitioner had alleged that the poll body effectively amended Form 6 through its SIR orders dated 24 June 2025, 27 October 2025, and 14 May 2026. The ECI squarely rejected this, calling the contention 'misleading.' The Commission clarified that the declaration accompanying the SIR process is a separate document and does not form part of Form 6, which can only be amended by the Central Government under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
'The Answering Respondent unequivocally rejects the misleading contention of the Petitioner that Form 6 — as has been provided in the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, has been amended by the Election Commission,' the affidavit stated.
What the SIR Declaration Actually Does
The ECI explained that the declaration accompanying Form 6 was revised under the SIR process to introduce a mapping mechanism, allowing applicants to furnish details of themselves or their parents or grandparents as recorded in earlier electoral rolls. The facility was designed to establish eligibility and reduce the burden of submitting additional supporting documents at the claims and objections stage — provided the applicant could supply the relevant linkage details.
Where applicants were unable to establish such linkage, they would still be required to submit the prescribed supporting documents. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) retained the authority to issue a notice and, where necessary, conduct a hearing in accordance with prescribed procedure.
Changes to Online Application Interface
The affidavit also addressed a subsequent decision to separate Form 6 and the SIR declaration in the online application flow, aligning the digital process with the physical procedure. Previously, the declaration had been integrated into the online Form 6 interface to allow applicants to complete both using a single OTP and electronic signature, rather than requiring separate authentication. The ECI noted this was a facilitative measure and did not alter the legal character of either document.
The Commission further clarified that the declaration was initially attached as Annexure D to the SIR order of 24 June 2025, and was subsequently replaced by Annexure IV in the later orders of 27 October 2025 and 14 May 2026.
Constitutional and Legal Basis
The ECI maintained that all three SIR orders were issued in accordance with Article 324 of the Constitution and the statutory framework under the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The orders were passed following unanimous decisions of the three-member Commission.
The matter is now before the Supreme Court, and the apex court's eventual ruling on the legality of the SIR process and the scope of ECI's powers to introduce accompanying declarations could have significant implications for future electoral roll revision exercises across the country.
Point of View
While the accompanying SIR declaration is an operational tool it can shape. That distinction may be technically sound, but critics will argue the practical effect on applicants — requiring ancestral linkage or documentary proof — is equivalent to a substantive change regardless of which document carries the condition. The Supreme Court's scrutiny of whether a 'facilitative' declaration can alter the burden on an applicant without amending the parent form is a question that goes beyond this case. A ruling in favour of the petitioner would significantly constrain the ECI's ability to add procedural layers to electoral participation without Central Government approval.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Form 6 and why does it matter?
Form 6 is the statutory form prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, for the inclusion of a person's name in the electoral roll. It matters because it is the primary legal document through which eligible citizens register as voters, and any change to it can affect millions of applicants nationwide.
What did the ECI tell the Supreme Court about Form 6?
The ECI told the Supreme Court in a counter-affidavit that Form 6 has not been amended through its SIR orders of June 2025, October 2025, or May 2026. It clarified that only the Central Government has the authority to amend Form 6, and that the SIR declaration is a separate, facilitative document.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) mapping mechanism?
The SIR mapping mechanism allows applicants to link themselves to earlier electoral rolls by furnishing details of themselves or their parents or grandparents. It was introduced to help establish eligibility without requiring additional supporting documents, though applicants who cannot provide linkage details must still submit prescribed documents.
Why has the ECI separated Form 6 and the SIR declaration in the online process?
The ECI separated the two documents in the online interface to align the digital process with the physical application procedure. Earlier, both had been integrated into a single online flow using one OTP and electronic signature for convenience, but the separation clarifies that the two documents remain legally distinct.
What happens next in the Supreme Court case?
The Supreme Court will examine the ECI's counter-affidavit and the petitioner's challenge to the SIR orders. Its ruling could determine the limits of the ECI's power to introduce procedural requirements alongside statutory electoral forms without Central Government approval.
