New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday rejected reports suggesting differences among its three members over decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying that internal discussions, observations and suggestions are a normal part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body.
The clarification came after a report claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised formal objections on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months concerning electoral-roll related decisions.
In a statement, the ECI said its members may express individual views or raise questions during deliberations, but maintained that final decisions of the Commission are taken unanimously. It described such exchanges as part of the internal checks and balances within the institution.
ECI Says Individual Objections Are Part Of Deliberations
The poll panel said operational queries or inputs raised while a decision is still being drafted should not be treated as final decisions of the Commission.
According to the ECI, differing observations are part of the decision-making process and can be raised by both Election Commissioners and other officials before a final decision is reached.
The Commission also said that its actions have been undertaken in accordance with applicable laws and its instructions. It maintained that decisions concerning SIR and other electoral-roll measures received the approval of all three members.
Report Cited 14 Objections Over Voter Roll Decisions
The controversy followed an Indian Express report which said Sandhu and Joshi had recorded at least 14 objections over a 10-month period.
The report said the concerns related to issues including changes to Form 6, voter additions and deletions, restoration of names and the handling of electoral-roll databases. It also reported concerns over the centralisation of certain electoral technology systems.
The report further stated that some objections questioned whether certain steps had been authorised and raised concerns about the way electoral data and voter-registration processes were being handled.
The ECI, however, has disputed the interpretation that these objections reflected a breakdown or division within the Commission, saying that focusing on individual internal notes without considering the final decisions presents only part of the picture.
Opposition Leaders Raise Questions Over ECI Functioning
The report has triggered a political controversy, with Opposition leaders questioning the functioning of the poll panel and demanding greater scrutiny of its decision-making process.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following the report, while leaders from other opposition parties also questioned the Commission’s handling of electoral-roll matters.
The ECI has maintained that its institutional decisions, including those concerning the SIR exercise, were taken unanimously and in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
The development comes as the SIR exercise remains under scrutiny in several parts of the country, with questions also being raised over voter notices, electoral-roll revisions and procedures for correcting or restoring names.
