Indian Express investigation reveals that two of the three Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, have objected at least 14 times in the last 10 months to decisions regarding the SIR. These objections cover various aspects such as voter registration, deletion, restoration, appeals, and electoral roll custody and security.
The Indian Express has reported that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, have raised concerns about decisions made without their knowledge regarding the SIR. These objections cover various aspects such as new voter registration, deletion and restoration of voters, filing of appeals against voter inclusion, and custody and security of the electoral rolls. The commissioners addressed these objections to the Election Commission and deputy election commissioners. In one written objection, Sandhu stated that the poll panel had acted against their written advice as being 'unauthorised and illegal'. On April 16, Sandhu expressed his concern that many communications go out in the name of the Election Commission but do not have the approval of the commission. He also mentioned that every communication must have the commission's approval 'as per the provisions of 2023 Act'. Eight days later, Joshi raised similar concerns about several communications being disseminated without the requisite approval of the commission. The exercise is being conducted under the supervision of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and the voter roll revision is currently in its third phase covering 19 states and Union Territories. As of now, more than 13 crore names have been removed from voter lists and draft rolls in the three phases so far.
One of the objections raised by the two election commissioners pertained to the changes to Form 6 , which is used to register a new voter. The new form asked applicants to state whether they or their parents or grandparents were part of the last special intensive revision of electoral rolls. Although the new declaration is not marked as mandatory, applicants cannot submit the online form without filling it. Joshi and Sandhu had objected to the change, saying that it could not be made without amending the rules. Section 28 of the 1950 Representation of the People Act says that only the Union government can amend the rules governing electoral forms, including Form 6.
Sandhu had also raised concern about appeals filed against the inclusion of voters in West Bengal electoral rolls. Last week, the Election Commission told the Supreme Court that 16.1 lakh of the 38.2 lakh appeals filed before tribunals against decisions taken during SIR in the state had challenged the inclusion of voters.
Source:
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