As per the latest news reports, The Election Commission of India is facing renewed scrutiny after an investigation repeated objections by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over decisions connected with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to the report, the two commissioners formally objected at least 14 times during the past 10 months, including four objections made on a single day.
The reported disagreements concern some of the most sensitive aspects of voter-roll management, including adding new voters, deleting names and restoring entries after appeals. Sandhu and Joshi reportedly questioned whether certain decisions were taken without adequate consultation and described some steps concerning Form 6 for new voters as “unauthorised” and “illegal”.
Another major issue involves access to the digital systems used to maintain electoral rolls. The two commissioners reportedly raised concerns over what they described as the gradual centralisation of voter databases and questioned restrictions on access available to statutory Electoral Registration Officers. The report also highlighted the role of the Election Commission’s IT division in managing these systems.
The investigation further examined the handling of voter appeals in West Bengal and a software-related issue in Goa. In Goa, 97 voters reportedly found eligible by Electoral Registration Officers could not be restored to the final roll because the necessary software facility was not activated in time.
The Election Commission, however, has rejected the suggestion that internal differences affected its decisions, stating that decisions are taken collectively and on the basis of consensus.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on Article 324 and the statutory framework governing the three-member poll panel, under which matters are generally intended to be handled unanimously, with majority opinion prevailing when commissioners differ.
