Supreme Court seeks response on modifications to Form 6 during SIR

• The Supreme Court made it clear that it has not approved any modifications to Form 6 that was being used by the Election Commission (EC) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in various states.

• A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana said it will examine all decisions of the Election Commission (EC) and annul those found not to be in accordance with law.

• It issued notices to the Centre and the poll body following pleas alleging that the EC took several decisions without the approval of the two Election Commissioners.

• However, the SC bench refused to pass any interim direction to restrain Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar from taking any decision till the final disposal of the petition.

How the EC officials responded?

• Form 6 is an application through which an eligible person seeks inclusion in the electoral rolls.

• Form 6 is prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

• The modified online version required applicants to declare whether their own name, or that of a parent or grandparent, appeared in the electoral roll prepared during an earlier SIR.

• The declaration was required to be furnished before an applicant could complete the online registration process.

• Election Commission officials asserted that Form 6 was not changed but a declaration was attached to it through its Bihar SIR order.

• A declaration was attached to Form 6 during the Bihar SIR order of June 24, 2025, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in its May 27 order, the EC said.