SIR Row, Gyanesh Kumar Resignation Demands: ECI Orders ECINET Review

By KUMAR VIKRAM

The Election Commission has extended claims and objections deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra, eased the hearing process for voters facing SIR notices and ordered an independent expert review of ECINet.

New Delhi, September 26, 2026 — Amid the continuing political and administrative controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced a series of decisions covering voter claims and objections, hearings, assistance for vulnerable groups, its ECINet system and internal administrative procedures.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the full Commission held on Saturday. The Commission’s meeting has come as a course correction following the report in The Indian Express that claimed rupture in internal decision making.

First, the ECI has restored the power of the field officers to make changes in the electoral roll. Second, the BLOs have been asked for door visits for document collections in cases where notices have been issued in the ongoing special intensive revision.

The Commission’s most immediate decision concerns Delhi, where the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 30, 2026. The period for disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended up to November 30, 2026.

The Commission has made a significant change in the procedure for voters who have received notices during the ongoing SIR because their records are unmapped or have logical discrepancies.

Under the new arrangement, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit the homes of such persons, collect the required documents and upload them on the ECINet system for a decision by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).

Such voters will not ordinarily have to appear personally before the ERO or AERO office.

The ECI said hearings would be held only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, and preferably online. An adult member of the voter’s family may also be authorised by the elector to attend a hearing on their behalf where required.

The Commission said facilities for online hearings would be strengthened.

The Commission has also directed District Election Officers to create an adequate number of help desks and special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor people, homeless persons and others requiring assistance.

The objective is to facilitate access to the electoral-roll process for people who may face difficulties in visiting election offices or submitting documentation.

Form 6 declaration and Supreme Court reference

The ECI has reiterated that the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

For periods outside SIR, the Commission said the Forms applicable under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 will continue to be used.

The Commission also stated that SIR has already been completed in 20 States/Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal.

Any person whose name was left out during SIR or subsequently, including young and first-time voters, may apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion in the electoral rolls under the process of continuous updation.

The Chief Electoral Officers have been directed to facilitate the process, and the CEOs, DEOs and EROs will launch a special enrolment drive for such electors.

ECI orders review of ECINet

In another important decision, the Commission said field officers have role-based access to ECINet in accordance with their statutory powers.

A committee headed by a senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT will review the ECINet system to ensure compliance with the relevant Acts and Rules.

The committee will submit its report to the Commission.

The ECI said several upgrades to the portal had already been undertaken on the basis of inputs received from State Chief Electoral Officers during the past few months. Any further flexibility required by field officers will also be made operational.

Going forward, all new initiatives relating to IT modules and portals will first be discussed in the Committee of Officers (COO) before being placed before the Commission for approval.

ECI clarifies Cabinet Secretary letter

The Commission has also reiterated its position regarding a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary that had become part of the wider controversy.

According to the ECI, the letter was not related to any policy matter of the Commission or its IT division. It concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the ECI.

The Commission said work re-distribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not actually implemented after directions from the two Commissioners, and that oversight of the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never withdrawn.

ECI lays out chronology of SIR decisions

The Commission has also detailed the chronology of its SIR decisions.

It said the order for SIR covering all States and Union Territories was issued on June 24, 2025, beginning with Bihar, followed by West Bengal and 30 other States/UTs, with the unanimous approval of the Commission.

The ECI further stated that the Supreme Court upheld the exercise through its order dated May 27, 2026.

According to the Commission, the schedule for SIR for 12 States/UTs was issued on October 27, 2025, while the schedule for another 19 States/UTs was issued on May 14, 2026, again with the unanimous approval of the Commission.

The final number of electors, the ECI said, will be known only after final publication in the remaining 12 States/UTs under Phase III.

Goa enrolment drive cited by Commission

The ECI also referred to Goa as an example of efforts to include voters left out of the electoral rolls.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Goa, has directed concerned BLOs to undertake house-to-house visits to voters left out of the rolls and collect the necessary forms.

The Commission said 81 of the 97 voters concerned had already filed Form 6 for inclusion.

The full Commission also decided that an agenda would be circulated in advance for every Commission meeting and minutes would be issued.

It directed that the Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) of all officers should be completed within the prescribed timeframe, namely December 31 every year.

The Commission’s approval will also be required for foreign trips undertaken by its officers.

In addition, the ECI directed that all directions issued by the Election Commissioners to officers of the Commission must be meticulously complied with.

The press note, signed by Deputy Director P Pawan, states that it was issued with the approval of the full Commission following the meeting held on September 26.

The latest measures combine procedural changes for voters, particularly those facing notices during SIR, with an institutional review of ECINet and a reiteration of the Commission’s account of how SIR decisions were taken.

For Maharashtra, following a request from the Chief Electoral Officer, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 12, 2026, while disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended to November 10, 2026.

The ECI’s announcement comes as the SIR process remains at the centre of a wider political dispute. Recent reports have highlighted demands from Opposition parties for greater clarity over the functioning of the Commission, while some NDA allies have also called for a public explanation to address concerns surrounding the exercise.

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