Supreme Court Clarifies Approval Status of Election Commission’s Form 6 Amid Revision Controversy

In a significant legal observation, Chief Justice Surya Kant stated on Monday that the Supreme Court has not sanctioned any modifications to the Election Commission’s Form 6, which is crucial for the registration of new voters in India. This statement emerged during the court’s deliberation on petitions seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to allegations of unilateral decision-making regarding the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

The backdrop of this discussion lies in the Election Commission’s recent claims that a declaration attached to Form 6 during the current voter roll revision exercise was approved by the Supreme Court. However, Chief Justice Kant made it clear that such assertions were unfounded, emphasizing that “any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us.” His comments raise questions about the integrity of the processes overseen by the Election Commission.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court confirmed that the previous version of Form 6 would be utilized during periods when the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is not in effect. This clarification by the Chief Justice is essential to maintain electoral transparency and ensure that the rights of voters are protected. The court has indicated its intention to scrutinize the modifications made to Form 6, asking for complete transparency in the documentation when it is presented.

During the hearing, the bench, which included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, opted not to issue an interim order on the petitions at this time. However, it has decided to send notices to Chief Election Commissioner Kumar, the Election Commission, the Union government, and key officials including Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, as well as Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg. This step indicates the court’s serious approach to ensuring accountability within the electoral framework.

The petitions were filed in light of a report by The Indian Express on September 23, highlighting concerns within the Election Commission regarding internal processes and decision-making. As India heads towards crucial elections, the integrity of the electoral process is paramount, and these developments are likely to have significant implications for the Commission’s operations going forward.

Source: scroll.in