ELECTION COMMISSION DEFENDS SIR PROCESS, TELLS SUPREME COURT ALL KEY DECISIONS WERE UNANIMOUS

October 26, 2026

NEW DELHI, October 26, 2026 — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has filed a 15-point counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court, rejecting allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and defending its internal decision-making procedures.

The Commission stated that all three SIR-related orders, issued in June 2025, October 2025 and May 2026, were unanimously approved by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. It also argued that the petition challenging its decisions relied on a single newspaper report and questioned its maintainability.

Addressing concerns over voter registration, the ECI maintained that statutory Form 6 had not been amended and that the SIR declaration was a separate document. However, it acknowledged that the online presentation could create the impression of an amendment and said the online application process would be separated into two components.

The Commission further stated that voters whose details could not be mapped to previous electoral rolls would not ordinarily need to attend hearings in person, with Booth Level Officers expected to collect the necessary documents from their homes. It also clarified that additions or deletions from electoral rolls require orders from the competent Electoral Registration Officer.

The affidavit comes amid legal challenges by opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc figures, who have sought greater transparency over voter deletions and safeguards against the removal of eligible voters. The Supreme Court is examining the competing claims concerning the legality and administration of the SIR exercise.