New Delhi, September 25: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), including claims relating to electoral-roll revisions, changes to voter-registration procedures and decisions allegedly taken without majority concurrence of the three-member Commission.
The petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, seeks an investigation into the alleged deletion of around 13 crore names from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. It also seeks restoration of the original Form 6, prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, for voter registration.
The plea further seeks an inquiry by a judicial commission or Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the allegations and appropriate action against officials found responsible.
Plea cites objections by two Election Commissioners
The petition relies, among other material, on reports concerning written objections allegedly recorded by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi between November 2025 and August 2026.
According to the petition, the two Commissioners recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over issues connected with the SIR exercise, electoral-roll data management, IT systems and administrative decisions. The allegations follow reports that the two Commissioners had raised concerns over aspects of the functioning of the poll panel.
The petitioner has argued that decisions, guidelines, directives and software modifications allegedly undertaken without the concurrence of the required majority of Election Commissioners should be declared unconstitutional and invalid. The plea also seeks action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Manish Garg and ECI Director General (IT) Seema Khanna.
Allegations over Form 6 and electoral-roll management
The petition alleges that changes were made to the digital version of Form 6, including making a linkage with the previous SIR mandatory for first-time voters, without a corresponding amendment to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
It further alleges that the centralisation of electoral-roll management through the ECI’s IT systems affected the statutory powers of Electoral Registration Officers.
The plea refers to the case of 97 electors in Goa, alleging that although the concerned Electoral Registration Officers found them eligible, the ECINet system did not provide a facility to roll back or reverse certain changes.
West Bengal appeals cited
The petition has also referred to the SIR exercise in West Bengal, including claims concerning appeals filed against decisions restoring names to electoral rolls.
The issue comes amid continuing litigation and scrutiny of the electoral-roll revision process. Separately, the Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court that 27.16 lakh voters were removed from West Bengal’s electoral rolls during the SIR exercise, while more than 22 lakh appeals seeking inclusion were filed.
ECI rejects claims of institutional rupture
The PIL comes amid public discussion over reported differences within the three-member Election Commission.
The ECI, however, has rejected suggestions of an institutional breakdown. In a statement issued on September 23, the poll panel said written objections, observations and technical suggestions by individual Election Commissioners are part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body. The Commission said its decisions are governed by the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, and that decisions are taken according to the applicable majority process.
The allegations contained in the PIL have not been adjudicated by the Supreme Court. The court’s consideration of the petition and any investigation or other directions will determine the next steps in the matter.
