FORMER HOME SECRETARY R.K. SINGH QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF SIR, CALLS FOR OPPOSITION UNITY.

September 29, 2026

Former Union Home Secretary and former BJP leader R.K. Singh has accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India of violating legal provisions in the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In an open letter, Singh cited Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, arguing that an intensive revision is intended for specified circumstances and requires reasons to be recorded. He questioned the decision to undertake the exercise on a nationwide scale. These are Singh’s legal and political allegations, rather than findings established by a court.

Singh also raised objections over changes to Form 6, used for voter registration, including an additional appendix seeking information related to parents’ entries in earlier electoral rolls. He argued that the requirements could create difficulties for young voters and disadvantaged sections of the population.

The former minister further questioned the deletion of voters while appeals against such decisions remained pending. He called for Opposition parties to coordinate their response to the SIR process and urged them to seek changes in the system governing the appointment of Election Commissioners.

His intervention comes amid a broader political and legal controversy surrounding the ECI’s handling of the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of internal institutional dissent over the process, maintaining that decisions relating to SIR were taken with the unanimous approval of the Commission.

The dispute is also being examined through legal proceedings, including a petition before the Supreme Court seeking an investigation into allegations concerning decisions taken within the Election Commission during the SIR exercise.