New Delhi: A fresh controversy has erupted around the Election Commission of India after a report alleged that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on record against several decisions taken during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The report said the two commissioners raised concerns at least 14 times over a period of 10 months, including over changes to Form 6, access to electoral roll databases, voter deletion and restoration procedures, and appeals connected with the West Bengal revision.
However, Election Commission sources have disputed the suggestion that the commissioners recorded formal dissent. According to the clarification, the two officials had made observations on various issues, which were examined by the poll panel. The Commission has maintained that decisions, including those related to the SIR exercise, were taken with the approval of all three members.
The reported objections have nevertheless brought renewed attention to the functioning of the three member constitutional body. One major issue concerns Form 6, which is used by new voters to register themselves. The reported changes added questions linked to the electoral rolls prepared during the previous SIR. Sandhu and Joshi had reportedly questioned whether such changes could be introduced without amendments to the relevant electoral rules.
The two commissioners also reportedly raised concerns over the increasing centralisation of electoral roll data and access to the digital systems used by election officials. Questions were additionally raised over the process followed for certain appeals in West Bengal.
The developments have triggered strong reactions from several Opposition leaders, who have questioned the credibility and functioning of the poll panel and demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The controversy comes as the SIR process remains politically contested, with millions of electoral entries undergoing verification across states and Union Territories. The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that its decisions have been unanimous.
