Amid SIR row, EC pulls back the curtain on meetings

Throughout this summer, an ongoing dispute has arisen within the Election Commission (EC) over how it conducts its meetings and processes. As part of the resolution, the EC has implemented new measures to improve transparency and accountability in its operations.

Firstly, agendas for all EC meetings will be distributed ahead of each session, while minutes will be released subsequently. This will enable stakeholders to stay informed about the discussions taking place within the commission.

Secondly, the EC clarified that the correspondence exchanged between the two Election Commissioners - Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi - and the Cabinet Secretary were not related to any policy matters of the Commission or its IT division. Instead, the letters pertained to the functioning of an officer on deputation to the poll panel.

Furthermore, the EC emphasized that disagreements and differing viewpoints among its members are an integral component of institutional deliberations. They affirm that their decisions are backed by full legal authority and adhere to statutory procedures.

In response to the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the EC announced that individuals receiving notices during the ongoing SIR will not need to appear for hearings at Election Return Offices (ERO) or Additional Election Return Offices (AERO) unless deemed necessary by the Returning Officer (ERO). Ballot Collection Officers (BLOs) will visit the concerned households, gather relevant documents and upload them onto the ECINet for ERO's decision.

Hearings will only be held in exceptional circumstances, preferably conducted online, with an adult family member able to represent the elector if authorized. The EC has also committed to strengthening online hearing facilities and setting up help desks and special camps for vulnerable populations at designated locations.

The Supreme Court's declaration of a particular form (Form 6) used in the SIR process has been upheld. During non-SIR periods, standard forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules 1960 will be utilized. Field officers will retain their role-based access to the ECINet system based on statutory powers.

To ensure the ECINet platform aligns with relevant Acts and Rules, a committee chaired by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and comprising an independent expert from an IIT/IIIT will review the system. The committee will submit its report to the Commission.

Several enhancements to the ECINet portal have been implemented based on feedback from state Chief Electoral Officers, with further flexibility for field officers to be operationalized. Going forward, all new IT-related initiatives will undergo discussion at the Committee of Officers (COO) before approval from the Commission.

In Delhi, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 30, 2026, while the deadline for their disposal has been pushed to November 30, 2026. In Maharashtra, the respective deadlines have been extended to October 12, 2026, and November 10, 2026, respectively.

Finally, the EC reiterated its commitment to meticulously comply with all directions issued by its commissioners to the officers of the Commission.