SIR Row: ECI Says Final Decisions Were Unanimous, Clarifies Officers’ Role in Voter Inclusion Process
ECI has announced key procedural updates regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Under the revised framework, voters who receive notices concerning logical discrepancies or unmapped status will typically not be required to appear personally before the electoral registration officer (ERO).
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday said all decisions taken by the three-member poll panel on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were approved unanimously, amid a continuing controversy over reported differences among the commissioners. The Commission also announced measures to simplify the process for voters who receive notices over unmapped records or logical discrepancies, TOI reported.
The clarification comes days after reports said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions over decisions and procedures linked to electoral-roll revision. The ECI has maintained that such internal views and queries are part of normal deliberations and do not amount to dissent on final decisions. Gyanesh Kumar Gets 48-Hour Resignation Ultimatum From CJP Amid SIR Controversy.
ECI Says Final Decisions Were Unanimous
In its latest clarification, the Election Commission said that all final decisions concerning the SIR exercise, including decisions related to its nationwide implementation, were taken unanimously.
The Commission said individual notes, suggestions and questions raised during internal deliberations should not be equated with formal decisions of the poll panel. It maintained that its official orders and directions have legal sanction. SIR Controversy: Gyanesh Kumar Faces Fresh Scrutiny as Opposition Cites 14 Objections by 2 Election Commissioners.
The clarification follows a report by The Indian Express that detailed at least 14 instances over a 10-month period in which Sandhu and Joshi had reportedly raised objections on issues concerning electoral-roll procedures.
New Procedure for Voters Receiving Notices
The ECI has also sought to make the process easier for voters who receive notices during the ongoing SIR. According to the Commission's latest decision, voters who are issued notices because their records are unmapped or contain logical discrepancies will not ordinarily be required to appear personally before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). The move is intended to reduce the burden on voters while allowing the verification process to continue.
What Is the Role of Electoral Registration Officers?
The latest clarification also focuses on the role of EROs in determining voter inclusion. ERO-level officers remain responsible for carrying out statutory procedures relating to electoral rolls. The ECI's position is that the SIR process includes mechanisms for verification, claims and objections before electoral rolls are finalised.
The government has previously said safeguards include prior intimation to electors, door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers, publication of draft rolls and opportunities to submit claims and objections through the prescribed forms.
Controversy Over Reported Internal Objections
The controversy intensified after reports that Sandhu and Joshi had raised concerns over several issues, including voter registration and deletion, changes involving Form 6 and the management of electoral-roll databases.
The ECI has not denied that commissioners can raise questions or suggestions during deliberations. Instead, it has argued that highlighting selected internal notes without the larger record of approvals and decisions gives an incomplete picture of the Commission's functioning.Neither Sandhu nor Joshi has publicly issued a separate statement contradicting the C ommission's formal position.
Opposition Questions ECI's Explanation
Opposition parties have continued to question the Commission's handling of the SIR process and the reported objections.
Congress leaders have sought greater transparency over the decision-making process, while other opposition parties have demanded action concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The political criticism centres on whether the reported objections indicate procedural concerns within the Commission and whether the SIR could result in eligible voters being excluded from electoral rolls. These remain matters of political and legal dispute rather than established findings of electoral manipulation.
Supreme Court Has Examined SIR Framework
The wider SIR controversy is also being discussed against the backdrop of judicial proceedings concerning the electoral-roll revision exercise.
The Union government has said the Supreme Court, in its May 27, 2026 judgment in the Association for Democratic Reforms case, examined the legality of SIR and held that the exercise falls within the ECI's statutory mandate. The government has also highlighted safeguards intended to prevent wrongful deletion of eligible voters.
ECI Reiterates Position
The Election Commission's latest statement seeks to draw a distinction between internal deliberation and final institutional decisions. While commissioners may raise concerns or suggest changes during the decision-making process, the ECI says the final decisions on SIR were taken unanimously. The immediate focus is now on how the revised procedures for voters receiving notices will operate and whether they address concerns raised over voter inclusion and deletion as the electoral-roll revision process continues.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 26, 2026 05:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).