Voters deleted during SIR can apply afresh through Form 6, tells EC to Delhi HC

The Election Commission of India has informed the Delhi High Court that two voters whose names were removed from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the capital can seek their restoration by submitting Form 6.

The submission came while the court was hearing a petition by the two voters seeking the reinstatement of their names, which were deleted after they failed to complete the enumeration process.

The court subsequently disposed of the plea, observing that the petitioner’s fear of facing accusations of making a false declaration if he submitted Form 6 was “misplaced”.

“Having heard the learned counsel for the parties, we are of the considered opinion that when the suggestion is coming from the learned standing counsel appearing for the ECI, that too as per the instructions of the electoral registration officer, petitioner No.1's apprehension that he would be accused of furnishing a false declaration is misplaced.

“With these observations, the writ proceedings are closed. The petitioners, if so desire, may fill Form 6, which shall be processed in accordance with law,” a bench of Justices Dinesh Mehta and Aditi Choudhary said.

The petitioners approached the court challenging the procedure prescribed by the ECI for the existing electors who could not be enumerated during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

They sought directions to restore their electoral entries and permit correction and transposition of their names through Form 8 instead of requiring them to seek fresh inclusion through Form 6.

Their grievance was that they had shifted from their previous address and, consequently, could not fill the enumeration forms, resulting in the deletion of their names from the electoral rolls.

The counsel for ECI submitted that the petitioners could get their grievance redressed by furnishing Form 6 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

He also said that the electoral registration officer would extend assistance, but the petitioners have chosen not to do so for the reasons best known to them.

Form 6 is the statutory application for fresh inclusion in the electoral roll. It requires an applicant to fill in their personal particulars.

Applicants are also required to affirm that they are applying for inclusion in the electoral roll for the first time. Giving a false declaration can attract penal consequences.