The Supreme Court has clarified that it did not approve any modified version of Form 6, which is used by eligible citizens to apply for inclusion in the electoral roll. The clarification came during a hearing on petitions related to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Court also indicated that it would examine the records to determine who made the changes to Form 6.

Why in the News?

The Supreme Court of India on Monday, October 5, 2026, issued notice to the Election Commission and the Centre seeking responses in a week on a plea challenging the manner in which the poll panel led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took decisions allegedly without the approval of two Election Commissioners.

  • A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant heard petitions concerning changes made to the online version of Form 6.
  • The Court said that it had not approved any modified Form 6 and indicated that it would examine the records relating to the changes.
  • The Bench said the decisions of the Election Commission have to be either unanimous or by majority and that it presumed that this is how all decisions were taken.

Form 6 is a statutory form provided in the Schedule of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Modifications to Form 6 should be done through the proper lawmaking process and not carried out unilaterally by administrative actions.

What is the Issue?

During the SIR process, the online version of Form 6 included an additional declaration seeking information about the applicant's or their parents' connection with the previous Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

  • This raised questions about whether a statutory form could be modified without following the required legal procedure.
The Supreme Court

Supreme Court's Observation

The Chief Justice of India made it clear that the modified Form 6 had not been approved by the Supreme Court. The Court also indicated that, after receiving the relevant report, it would examine who modified the form and what changes were made.

Election Commission's Position

The Election Commission of India had earlier said that the SIR declaration attached to Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court. It later clarified that outside the SIR period, the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 would be used.

  • The latest Supreme Court observation clarified that this did not mean that the Court had approved the modified Form 6 itself.

Legal Challenge

A petition filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi has challenged the changes made to Form 6 and other decisions related to the functioning of the Election Commission. The petition alleges that the changes were made without the required legal authority and without amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

  • It also alleges that some decisions relating to the SIR were taken without following the required collective decision-making process within the Election Commission.
  • These are allegations made in the petition and are yet to be finally decided by the Court.

What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a detailed exercise for revising and verifying electoral rolls. The controversy over Form 6 has emerged as part of the wider legal challenge concerning the SIR process and the procedures followed by the Election Commission.

Why is the Issue Important?

The case raises important questions about:

  • Voter registration
  • Electoral roll management
  • Legal authority to modify statutory forms
  • Powers and procedures of the Election Commission of India
  • Collective decision-making within the Election Commission
  • Protection of the rights of eligible voters
  • Transparency in the electoral process

Conclusion

The Supreme Court of India has clarified that it did not approve the modified Form 6. It will examine the relevant records to determine how and by whom the changes were made. The issue is important because it concerns voter registration, electoral roll management, and the powers and procedures of the Election Commission.