NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said it would scrutinise decisions taken by the Election Commission in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and set aside any decision found to be inconsistent with the law.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notices to the Centre and the Election Commission on petitions questioning the manner in which certain decisions related to the SIR were taken.
The court also made it clear that it had not approved any modified version of Form 6 used by the Election Commission during the SIR exercise.
The clarification assumes significance amid a dispute over changes made to Form 6 and the declaration attached to it for the SIR process. The petitioners have questioned whether the changes were properly authorised.
The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the June 24, 2025 order directing the SIR in Bihar was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. It has also pointed out that the Supreme Court, in its May 27, 2026 judgment, upheld the order.
In its Press Note No. 120 issued on September 26, 2026, the ECI further stated that the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR had been upheld by the Supreme Court.
The Election Commission’s position and the latest clarification from the Supreme Court relate to two connected but distinct issues. While the court had earlier upheld the Bihar SIR exercise, it is now examining questions surrounding the specific modifications made to Form 6 and their authorisation.
The bench said it would examine the decisions and annul any action found to be contrary to law.
The court’s latest observations have therefore put the focus on whether the changes made to Form 6 were properly authorised and whether they were covered by the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment on the SIR exercise.
