The Election Commission of India convened a full commission meeting at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on Saturday, bringing together Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The panel issued a detailed press statement and photograph to counter media reports from September 23 alleging internal objections raised by Sandhu and Joshi regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The EC stated that the June 24, 2025 order launching the SIR across states and Union Territories, as well as its subsequent schedules, were approved unanimously by all three commissioners and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Addressing concerns over voter registration, the panel clarified that a declaration introduced under Form 6 requiring applicants to show linkage to previous revisions through parents' names was also upheld by the Supreme Court, while regular registration rules continue outside the SIR process. In Goa, where 97 voters were initially omitted from rolls, 81 have submitted Form 6 following house-to-house visits by Booth Level Officers. Regarding the ECINET portal and database access, the commission announced a review committee led by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent technology expert from an IIT or IIIT.
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To reinforce internal operational standards, the commission announced that meeting agendas will now be circulated in advance and formal minutes recorded, with commissioner directions to officials strictly enforced. The poll body also extended SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra. Addressing a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary, the commission clarified that the correspondence addressed work redistribution for a deputed officer rather than overall policy regarding the election body or its IT division.
