Supreme Court clarifies stand on modified Form 6 amid SIR row: ‘We have not approved it’ | What is Form 6 controversy?
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that it had not approved any changes to Form 6, the application used by people to register as new voters.
The clarification came during a hearing on petitions challenging the powers being exercised by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in connection with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The court was informed about an additional requirement introduced in the online version of Form 6 during the SIR exercise. The Bench made it clear that the modification had not received its approval.
“Modified Form 6 has not been approved by us,” the Bench said, according to the proceedings.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also said the court would examine the official record to establish who had made the changes.
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What is Form 6 controversy?
The dispute relates to an additional declaration added to the online voter registration process during the SIR exercise. Under the additional requirement, a person applying for inclusion in the electoral roll is asked to provide details linking themselves, their parents or grandparents to an earlier electoral roll.
The Election Commission introduced the requirement as part of the SIR process, which is aimed at identifying and removing names of dead, missing and allegedly ineligible voters from electoral rolls.
The issue gained attention after a report raised questions over the legality of changing Form 6. Concerns were reportedly raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over the additional declaration.
The argument was that Form 6 is a statutory form under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and any formal change would require an amendment to the rules.
What had Supreme Court said earlier?
The issue is linked to the Supreme Court's May 27 judgment concerning the SIR exercise in Bihar.
At that time, the court upheld the Election Commission's authority to conduct the revision and considered the documentation that could be sought from voters. The court had observed that Form 6 could not necessarily be applied in exactly the same manner during an SIR exercise. It also recognised that the Election Commission had some residual authority to frame an appropriate documentation process.
However, the court made it clear that this authority was not unlimited and that any departure from the existing statutory framework must have a reasonable connection with the purpose of the SIR.
The current dispute is therefore focused on whether the additional declaration is within the Election Commission's powers or whether it amounts to a change in the statutory Form 6.
Opposition questions the change
Opposition leaders have demanded answers over who authorised the additional requirement.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the online version of Form 6 was changed without proper authority. He has also questioned who directed TCS, which operates the technology involved, to implement the change.
Opposition parties, along with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), have also criticised the SIR exercise and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The CJP has announced plans to hold a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not step down.
- PTC NEWS
