SIR row: EC rejects opposition's charges, files 15-point counter-affidavit in SC

NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Monday filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court defending its functioning and the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The poll body rejected allegations of irregularities and questioned the basis of a petition challenging its decision-making process.According to Bar and Bench, the poll body said the petition was built entirely on a single news report. The affidavit, approved unanimously by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, addresses concerns over the Commission's internal decision-making, alleged changes to voter enrolment forms, deletion of names and the functioning of its electoral databases.The response came after a plea filed by Rakesh Kumar Singh in the apex court. The petition sought the suspension of the CEC and challenged his alleged unilateral decision-making powers. It also sought to declare the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and all related actions invalid.What EC said in its 15-point rebuttalIn its counter-affidavit, the EC made the following submissions, as reported by Bar and Bench:Affidavit approved unanimously by all three members: the CEC and both Election CommissionersAll three SIR orders (June 2025, October 2025, May 2026) were unanimous decisions of the CommissionNotes, queries or suggestions by the CEC or ECs while a file moves are not decisions of the CommissionFiles go to one EC, then the other EC, then the CEC. In urgent cases, approval is taken electronically and recorded on file laterAny officer issuing orders beyond delegated powers will face actionJuly 28 work allocation order was issued by an Additional Secretary on deputation. Both ECs wrote to the Cabinet Secretary the next day. The order was never implemented after the ECs' joint direction of July 30Form 6 has not been amended. Only the Centre can amend it. The SIR declaration is a separate documentAdmits the online display could be read as an amendment. From October 21, the online application will be split into Form 6 and the declaration, as in the physical formUnmapped voters need not attend hearings. BLOs will collect documents from their homes. Hearings only in exceptional cases, preferably onlineECINet: no name is added or deleted except by order of the ERO. A committee with experts from IIT and IISc has been set up to check complianceGoa: of 97 "left out" voters, 88 had already been enrolled, 6 were abroad and 3 held Portuguese passportsWest Bengal appeals against inclusion of voters were filed by officers of the CEO, West Bengal, under Supreme Court orders. "These matters were not brought to the Commission"Plea to restrain the CEC is not maintainable. CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judgeCommission never released or authorised the release of any internal note or file to the mediaRepeated challenges to EVMs already rejected by the Supreme CourtGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.