Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 6: The controversy over alleged changes to Form 6, used for registering new voters, intensified after the Supreme Court clarified that it had not approved any modification to the form.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said it would examine the official records to determine who authorised the changes to Form 6.
The controversy centres on an additional declaration attached to Form 6 during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The declaration sought details about whether the applicant's name, or that of a parent or grandparent, appeared in an earlier electoral roll. Although the additional section was not formally made mandatory, applicants were reportedly required to respond to it while completing the online registration process.
The Election Commission, however, has maintained that Form 6 itself was never altered. According to the poll panel, the statutory form remained unchanged and the additional declaration was a separate document introduced as part of the SIR exercise.
The ECI rejected allegations by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had illegally and unilaterally changed Form 6. It said the additional declaration was introduced in accordance with the SIR process and referred to the Supreme Court's earlier proceedings to support its position.
The Supreme Court's latest observation has, however, raised questions over the Election Commission's interpretation of its earlier order. The court made it clear that it had not approved any modified Form 6 and sought the relevant records to determine how the additional requirement was authorised and implemented.
The controversy has also brought reported differences within the Election Commission into focus. Records have revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had earlier raised objections to the additional declaration attached to Form 6. They reportedly questioned whether such a change could be introduced without amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and sought its removal.
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions of a split within the poll body, maintaining that differences of opinion are part of the decision-making process and that its decisions were taken unanimously.
Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the changes were made illegally and unilaterally, accusing the CEC of abusing his position and alleging that the move was intended to benefit the BJP.
The BJP has strongly rejected the allegations. The party accused Gandhi and the Congress of misleading the public, pointing out that the Supreme Court had not declared Form 6 illegal. The BJP said the court had merely sought records to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged modification.
The dispute now hinges on the distinction between the statutory Form 6 and the additional declaration introduced during the SIR process. While the Election Commission maintains that the original Form 6 was never changed, the Supreme Court has sought official records to establish who authorised the additional requirement and under what procedure.
The matter is now before the Supreme Court, which will examine the records and the procedure followed in introducing the additional declaration.