{
  "id": 12277769,
  "title": "Form 6 row: How an ECI order reached Supreme Court | Timeline",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/form-6-row-how-an-eci-order-reached-supreme-court-timeline",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T01:42:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/form-6-row-how-an-eci-order-reached-supreme-court-timeline-101791250931991.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On June 24, 2025, the Election Commission of India (ECI) initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, which was the first such large-scale revision since 2003. The primary objectives were to ensure all eligible citizens were registered as voters and to remove ineligible individuals. The ECI cited factors like rapid urbanization, unreported deaths, and the alleged inclusion of illegal immigrants as reasons for undertaking the revision.\n\nThe SIR process required applicants for new voter registration to submit Form 6, accompanied by an additional Declaration Form that mapped the applicant or their parents to the 2002 base rolls. On September 23, 2026, the Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally and repeatedly objected to changes to Form 6 without their knowledge, with at least 14 objections over ten months.\n\nOn September 24, 2026, the ECI contended that all decisions taken by the Commission, including electoral roll revisions and SIR, were unanimous. However, they did not specify who approved the alteration to Form 6 or why the online declaration appeared despite these objections. On September 26, the ECI reiterated its legal stance, stating that the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR had been upheld by the Supreme Court. The Commission also affirmed that the statutory forms under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would be used outside the SIR period.\n\nHowever, on October 5, 2026, the Supreme Court clarified that no modified version of Form 6 had been approved by it. In response to a plea involving CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s functioning, the Court rejected the notion that a modified Form 6 had been used in Delhi. Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that any alterations to the statutory form had not received the Court’s approval.",
  "summary": "The ECI has maintained that Form 6 itself was never amended, and that the disputed provision was a separate SIR declaration",
  "key_points": [
    "On June 24, 2025, ECI initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.",
    "At least 14 objections were raised to changes in Form 6 over ten months.",
    "Supreme Court rejected a modified version of Form 6 on October 5, 2026."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "SIR row: Will annul EC orders not in keeping with law, says Supreme Court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/sir-row-will-annul-ec-orders-not-in-keeping-with-law-says-supreme",
        "published": "2026-10-05T20:52:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Who modified what?: Supreme Court seeks ECI records on Form 6 change",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/who-modified-what-supreme-court-seeks-eci-records-on-form-6-change",
        "published": "2026-10-06T00:00:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Alito slams criticism of Supreme Court from political leaders, says it can be \"quite damaging\"",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/alito-slams-criticism-of-supreme-court-from-political-leaders-says-it",
        "published": "2026-10-06T01:13:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "‘Deleted voter filing Form 6 not false declaration’: Election Commission tells Bombay High Court amid SIR row",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/deleted-voter-filing-form-6-not-false-declaration-election-commission",
        "published": "2026-10-06T02:03:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}