New Delhi: Amid nationwide furore over charges of unilateral decisions by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, ignoring dissent by Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi in the conduct of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the entire panel met at the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters on Saturday.
The Commission issued a lengthy press note detailing a series of decisions on the SIR process, ECINet, Form 6, claims and objections, and also addressing recent questions about an internal communication to the Cabinet Secretary.
The ECI clarified that the Cabinet Secretary letter “was not related to any policy matter of the Commission or IT division”, but concerned the “working of an officer on deputation to ECI.”
The Election Commission added that work redistribution orders issued by the officer “were not actually implemented” after orders from two Commissioners and that “the oversight over the IT division by the DEC was never actually withdrawn.”
On the much talked-about issue of alleged disagreements within the Election Commission, the panel said the SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, covering all states and Union Territories, beginning with Bihar and followed by West Bengal and 30 other states and UTs, was issued with the “unanimous approval of the Commission.”
The Supreme Court upheld the order on May 27, 2026, ECI pointed out.
The schedules which were issued for 12 states and UTs in October 2025 and 19 states and UTs in May 2026 were also issued with “unanimous approval of the Commission,” ECI said.
Unmapped voters & logical discrepancies
In an important decision, the poll panel has changed the verification process for voters who have received notices for being “unmapped” or having logical discrepancies.
From now, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit the homes of voters under a cloud, collect documents and upload them on ECINet before a decision is taken by the Electoral Registration Officer.
Such voters will henceforth not be called for hearing to ERO/AERO office.
Hearings will take place only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, and will preferably be held online. An adult family member can also be authorised by the elector to attend the hearing on their behalf, if necessary.
The ECI has also asked District Election Officers to set up adequate help desks and organise special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor people and homeless citizens.
Form 6 confusion
The Commission also explained the issue of Form 6 and its confusion.
“The declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the poll panel said.
For periods when SIR is not underway, the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, will be used.
ECI said SIR process has been completed in 20 states and UTs. People whose names were left out during SIR or subsequently, as well as young and first-time voters, can apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion through continuous updation. CEOs, DEOs and EROs have been directed to launch a special enrolment drive.
Panel set up to review ECINET
On its digital electoral management system, ECI said field officers have “role-based access to the ECINET system as per their statutory powers.”
A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT will review ECINet to “double-check” that it complies with the provisions of the relevant Acts and Rules.
Several upgrades have already been made based on inputs from state Chief Electoral Officers.
The Commission extended the deadline for filing claims and objections in Delhi until October 30, while disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended until November 30.
In Maharashtra, the deadline for filing has been extended until October 12, while disposal has been extended until November 10.
A meeting of the Election Commission of India was held today, 26 September 2026, at 3:00 PM at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi were present in today’s meeting.… pic.twitter.com/WZoqEIXVJq
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) September 26, 2026
