Amid Nation-Wide Protests, Election Commission Orders ECINET Review, Change In SIR Process
New Delhi: Facing nationwide street demonstrations, growing opposition demands for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, and a petition in the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India (ECI) convened a full commission meeting on Saturday afternoon.
Following the 3:00 PM session at its headquarters Nirvachan Sadan—attended by CEC Gyanesh Kumar alongside Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi—the poll panel released a comprehensive press note outlining crucial administrative overhauls to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the digital ECINet system.
The meeting follows days of intense political friction sparked by reports alleging internal friction within the three-member body over SIR procedures, IT oversight, and voter database centralisation. Addressing the controversy directly, the Commission presented a unified front, affirming that all major policy decisions had received unanimous approval and announcing a series of corrective measures to alleviate public hardship and bolster administrative transparency.
Election Commission statement
In a major procedural shift designed to lessen the burden on citizens, the ECI announced that voters flagged for “unmapped” status or logical discrepancies will no longer be routinely summoned to Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant ERO offices.
Instead, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been instructed to conduct door-to-door visits to collect required documentation and upload it directly onto the ECINet portal. Personal hearings will now occur only in exceptional circumstances as determined by EROs and will preferably be conducted online. Electors may also authorise any adult family member to attend on their behalf.
To ensure vulnerable demographics are not disenfranchised, District Election Officers (DEOs) have been directed to set up dedicated help desks and special enrolment camps for night shelter residents, migrant labourers, homeless individuals, and impoverished communities.
Election Commission statement
Addressing persistent concerns raised by field officers and political parties regarding access restrictions on the digital portal, the ECI has ordered an independent review of ECINet.
A newly constituted committee, chaired by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and featuring an independent technology expert from an IIT or IIIT, will double-check that the platform complies fully with statutory provisions under electoral law. Going forward, all future IT modules and portal initiatives must undergo review by the Committee of Officers (COO) before being submitted for final ECI approval.
The panel further clarified that a previous letter to the Cabinet Secretary regarding IT oversight involved administrative matters concerning an officer on deputation, confirming that structural oversight over the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never withdrawn.
Recognising logistical constraints in key states, the ECI approved timeline extensions for filing claims and objections:
National Capital Territory of Delhi: The deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 30, 2026, with disposal of notices extended to November 30, 2026.
Maharashtra: The deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 12, 2026, with disposal extended to 10th November 2026.
The Commission reiterated that while the SIR exercise has been completed across 20 States and Union Territories—including Bihar and West Bengal—any omitted voter or first-time applicant can still seek inclusion through the continuous updation process by submitting Form 6.
To reinforce internal governance and procedural rigor, the Commission adopted several strict administrative mandates:
Advance circulation of agendas and formal issuance of minutes for all ECI meetings.
Mandatory pre-approval from the full Commission for all foreign official trips by officers.
Strict adherence to completing Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) by 31st December annually.
Explicit instructions that all directions issued by Election Commissioners must be meticulously complied with by panel staff.
