‘ECI’s Abetment!’ Ex-CEC SY Quraishi Says Officials Who Forced Deleted Voters To Fill Form 6 Are ‘Abettors’

Former Chief Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi has criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Quraishi accused officials who forced voters whose names were deleted during the exercise to fill Form 6, claiming that form is meant for new voters and not for deleted ones. He emphasized that filling Form 6 by deleted voters constitutes a criminal offence with a potential one-year prison sentence.

Quraishi further stated that ECI officials who compelled voters to fill the form are abetting the criminal act. His allegations were based on an October 1 press note released by the ECI, which directed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to compare the current electoral roll with the pre-SIR roll, identify missing voters, and facilitate their enrolment through Form 6.

Quraishi's comments come amid growing political criticism of the poll body's handling of the SIR exercise, which has resulted in approximately 13 crore names being removed from draft electoral rolls in various states and Union Territories.