The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday asserted that all decisions concerning the schedule and implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were taken with the “unanimous approval of the three-member Commission”, while clarifying that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation and not any policy matter.

The clarification came amid a report in The Indian Express that Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise.

Addressing a press conference after a meeting at Nirvachan Sadan, ECI Director General (Media) Ashish Goyal said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi were present at the meeting held at 3 pm.

“The Commission unanimously took several decisions during the meeting,” Goyal said.

In its press note, the ECI said the SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, covering all States and Union Territories, beginning with Bihar and followed by West Bengal and 30 other States/UTs, was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission.

It said the schedule for SIR in 12 States and UTs was issued on October 27, 2025, while that for another 19 States/UTs was issued on May 14, 2026, again with the unanimous approval of the Commission.

The Commission said the SIR exercise had already been completed in 20 States and UTs, including Bihar and West Bengal, while the final number of electors would be known only after final publication of the electoral rolls in the remaining 12 States and UTs under Phase-III.

Letter to Cabinet Secretary

The ECI also clarified that the letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary was not related to any policy decision of the Commission or its IT division.

“The letter to the Cabinet Secretary was not related to any policy matter of the Commission or IT division but related to working of an officer on deputation to the ECI. The work redistribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not actually implemented after the orders of the two Commissioners, and the oversight over the IT division by the DEC was never actually withdrawn,” it said.

The clarification follows a recent Indian Express report “Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times over the last 10 months to decisions taken and orders issued without their knowledge.”

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Measures for voters

The ECI announced that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would visit the homes of electors who had received notices during the ongoing SIR for being unmapped or having logical discrepancies, to facilitate collection of the required documents.

“In exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, the hearing will be held preferably online,” the ECI said, adding that any adult family member can be authorised by an elector to attend the hearing on their behalf, if required.

District Election Officers have been directed to establish adequate help desks and organise special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor and homeless persons.

The Commission said the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR had been upheld by the Supreme Court, while forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would continue to be used during non-SIR periods.

ECINet system to be reviewed

The ECI also announced that a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT would review the ECINet system to ensure compliance with electoral laws and rules.

The move comes amid concerns raised over the functioning and centralisation of the Commission’s electoral-roll management system.

Delhi, Maharashtra deadlines extended

The Commission extended the deadline for filing claims and objections in Delhi to October 30, 2026, following a request from the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi. The deadline for disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended to November 30.

In Maharashtra, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 12, while disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended to November 10.

In Goa, the ECI said the Chief Electoral Officer had directed concerned BLOs to conduct house-to-house visits to left-out voters and collect their forms. Of the 97 voters identified, 81 had already filled Form 6 for inclusion in the electoral rolls.

The Commission reiterated that persons whose names were left out during or after the SIR exercise, including young and first-time voters, could apply for inclusion in the electoral rolls under the continuous updation process.

Chief Electoral Officers have been directed to facilitate enrolment and undertake special drives to ensure the inclusion of eligible voters.