The Supreme Court of India on Monday clarified that it has neither approved nor rejected the Election Commission of India's (ECI) revised Form 6, the statutory application for new voter enrollment. The apex court emphasized that the validity of the updated form remains open for judicial examination.
Court Addresses ECI Claims
This clarification emerged during a hearing on a new writ petition concerning the ECI's operations and modifications to voter registration forms. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, made these observations after counsel attempted to rely on the court's earlier remarks from the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) case.
Justice Bagchi explicitly stated that the revised Form 6 did not exist when the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the Bihar SIR electoral rolls in May 2026. Therefore, the court had no opportunity to examine or rule on its changes. "There is no adjudication on the new Form 6. That is all we have said," Justice Bagchi observed, adding that the Chief Justice's previous remarks only indicated the form's non-existence at the time of the Bihar SIR judgment, not its approval or disapproval.
What is the Revised Form 6?
Form 6 is the standard application used by citizens to register as new voters. The controversial revision now requires applicants to declare whether they or their parents were included or mapped in a previous SIR exercise. This change has drawn criticism, with allegations that the ECI introduced it without adhering to prescribed legal procedures.
The Supreme Court's clear stance is significant, particularly as the poll panel had reportedly suggested that the modification had received the top court's approval. Chief Justice Surya Kant had previously stated on October 5, "Any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us. Let's be clear," during a separate plea.
Future Judicial Scrutiny
The Supreme Court affirmed its readiness to examine the validity of the revised Form 6 if a proper challenge is presented. It agreed to issue notice on the fresh petition and scheduled the matter for October 27. This hearing will consolidate with other related petitions concerning the SIR exercise and allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner.
This clarification intensifies the legal debate surrounding electoral roll revisions, making it clear that the Election Commission cannot interpret the court's past observations as judicial endorsement of its new declaration. The upcoming hearing is expected to delve into both the validity of the modified Form 6 and broader challenges to the ECI's conduct of the SIR process.