ECI must not force voters to lie. Solution may lie in a Form 6X, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reversed its approach to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), initiating a special enrolment drive.
• This directive follows an exercise where approximately 13 crore names were reportedly removed from draft electoral rolls.
• The ECI has instructed officials to identify and re-enrol arbitrarily deleted eligible voters in 20 states and Union Territories.
• A key concern is the mandated use of Form 6, designed for new voters, for the re-enrolment of previously registered individuals.
• The article proposes the introduction of a new form, such as Form 6X, for the legally appropriate restoration of deleted voters.

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Detailed Insights:

• The ECI issued instructions on September 29, reinforced on October 1, for a special enrolment drive to correct discrepancies.
• Officials are tasked with comparing pre-SIR and post-SIR rolls to identify missing voters and facilitate their re-enrolment.
• The ECI previously encouraged early registration for young voters, introducing four qualifying dates (January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1) annually.
• Using Form 6 for deleted voters forces them to make a false declaration of applying for the first time.
• Making a false declaration on Form 6 is punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, with imprisonment or fine.
• Election officials could face charges of abetment under Sections 45 and 49 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for instigating false declarations.
• The proposed Form 6X would allow for verification of previous EPIC (Elector's Photo Identity Card) numbers and electoral roll particulars.
• Amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, through the Law Ministry, could facilitate the creation of a new form like Form 6X.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A process undertaken by the ECI to update and revise electoral rolls.
• Form 6: The application form prescribed by the ECI for new voters seeking inclusion in the electoral roll.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950: Legislation governing the conduct of elections and voter registration in India.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: A new criminal code that replaced the Indian Penal Code, defining various offences and their punishments.
• Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: Rules detailing the procedure for electoral roll registration under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.