Who modified what?: Supreme Court seeks ECI records on Form 6 change

The Supreme Court on Monday stated that it has not approved any "modified" version of Form 6, the form used to enroll new voters, and will scrutinize Election Commission of India (ECI) records to ascertain if any alterations were made and by whom. The apex court was responding to a petition arguing that a "modified" Form 6 was utilized for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The case is being heard by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. The court's remark follows the Election Commission's announcement on September 26 that Form 6 would revert to the original version per Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The ECI had stated that the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been confirmed by the Supreme Court.

"For non-SIR period, the Forms applicable as per Rules (the Registration of Electors Rules 1960) will be used," the ECI had said. The ECI's stance came in response to findings from an investigation by The Indian Express published on September 23, revealing that two Election Commissioners raised objections on record 14 times in 10 months to actions taken by the Commission under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, ranging from keeping them in the dark to adding new voters and deleting names.