Amid an escalating political controversy and reports of internal friction, sources within the Election Commission of India (ECI) have clarified that the Special Intensive Review (SIR) orders for Bihar and multiple other states were approved unanimously by the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners.
The clarification comes in the wake of widespread opposition protests and media reports claiming that fellow commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to key decisions made during the electoral roll revision. Addressing these concerns, poll panel sources emphasized that while individual observations and differing viewpoints form a standard, healthy part of internal deliberations within a multi-member constitutional body, all final directives are adopted with collective consensus.
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As part of the ongoing electoral reforms, the approved SIR directives introduce a streamlined Declaration Form to be submitted alongside Form 6 for new voter registrations. Designed in accordance with Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and previously upheld by the Supreme Court, the measure aims to drastically reduce administrative paperwork and simplify the enrollment process for citizens across participating states and union territories.
The rollout of the SIR process has spanned multiple phases nationwide, beginning in Bihar before expanding to over a dozen states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. A third phase launched earlier this year further extended the review to major urban and regional centers, covering states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi.
While opposition parties continue to question the transparency of the electoral overhaul and demand accountability, the poll body maintains that its administrative actions strictly adhere to established legal frameworks. The ECI’s reiteration of internal unity attempts to stabilize institutional confidence as legal challenges and political demonstrations persist across various parts of the country.
