At sixes and sevens, the ECI’s growing credibility crisis, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is facing a growing credibility crisis due to alleged procedural irregularities and partiality.
• Concerns have been raised regarding changes to Form 6 (application for inclusion in electoral roll) and the alleged misuse of Form 7 (objection/deletion from electoral roll).
• The ECI introduced a Declaration Form (Annexure D) with Form 6 during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which critics and some Election Commissioners deemed "illegal and unauthorised".
• The Chief Justice of India clarified that the Supreme Court had not approved any modified Form 6.
• Allegations include discriminatory treatment of opposition parties, a lax approach to Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, and obstruction of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).

Detailed Insights:

• The article highlights a disturbing pattern of institutional decline within the ECI, citing instances from the 2019 and 2024 general elections.
• A December 2023 legislation on the selection procedure for Commissioners is seen as further undermining the ECI's credibility.
• The ECI's June 24, 2025, notification for SIR included a Declaration Form with Form 6 that sought information beyond the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
• Critics suspected the SIR was an attempt to introduce a National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the back door.
• Section 28 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, empowers only the central government to make rules, questioning the ECI's unilateral amendment of Form 6.
• The ECI's continued use of two versions of Form 6 (with and without the Declaration) in different states raises concerns about aligning voter eligibility with the Citizenship Act.
• Widespread misuse of Form 7 for mass deletion of voters in states like Uttarakhand and Karnataka points to potential manipulation of the electoral system.
• Complaints from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) indicate issues with centralized data management obstructing their statutory duties.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Election Commission of India (ECI): A constitutional body responsible for conducting and regulating elections in India.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC): A set of guidelines issued by the ECI for political parties and candidates during elections.
• Form 6: The application form for inclusion of a name in the electoral roll for new voters or those shifting constituencies.
• Form 7: The application form for objection to the inclusion or for deletion of a name from the electoral roll.
• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A special exercise undertaken by the ECI to update and revise electoral rolls.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950: An Act of Parliament that provides for the conduct of elections to the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures.
• National Register of Citizens (NRC): An official record of legal Indian citizens.