ECI Insists on Form 6 for Delhi Voters Despite Supreme Court Ruling

The Election Commission of India (ECI) continues to require voters excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Delhi, categorized as Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate (ASDD), to submit Form 6. This form is intended solely for new voters, despite a Supreme Court ruling that declared the ECI’s earlier stance as an “error.”

On October 28, the apex court clarified that voters deleted from the electoral rolls should not be forced to reapply as new voters using Form 6. Activists Anjali Bhardwaj and Amrita Johri, represented by advocates Prashant Bhushan, Cheryl D’souza, and Neha Rathi, argued that compelling these voters to misrepresent themselves as new applicants could lead to legal consequences.

The court suggested allowing these voters to use Form 8 or an enumeration form instead. However, on November 4, the Chief Justice (CJI) deferred hearing the case until after Deepavali holidays, assuring voters there was no cause for concern since the Supreme Court was actively addressing the issue.

The ECI has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections to November 25, originally set for October 30. Bhushan highlighted that filling Form 6 as new voters could expose them to prosecution, leaving them in a difficult situation. The CJI reassured them, stating, “We are dealing with the matter.”

The bench instructed the petitioners to file an application on this issue and scheduled the next hearing for November 19. It also mentioned that if necessary, the ECI could be asked to extend the deadline further.