Election Commission defends SIR process, says internal differences are normal

The Election Commission said differing views and observations were a normal part of institutional deliberations and asserted that all its orders followed statutory procedures. The poll panel also said decisions taken over the past year, including SIR-related measures, were unanimous

New Delhi: Under fire over red flags reportedly raised by two of its Commissioners on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, the Election Commission on Wednesday said differing views and observations were a normal part of deliberations in any institution and asserted that all its orders carried full legal sanction and followed established statutory procedures.

In a statement, the EC said not only the three Commissioners but every officer of the Commission was fully authorised to offer suggestions to improve the electoral system.

---

The poll panel said operational queries or inputs raised by Commission members during the draft stage were part of standard administrative practice aimed at safeguarding voters’ rights. It added that suggestions made by the Commissioners were intended to further improve electoral processes.

The statement came after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had red-flagged multiple issues, including the deletion of names, in various states during the pan-India SIR of electoral rolls, triggering a political controversy.

“All official orders, decisions and administrative directions issued by the Commission carry full legal sanctions and follow established statutory procedures under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023,” the statement said.

“Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution. They are a part of the decision-making process before a final decision is taken. Not only the three Commissioners, but every officer of the Commission is fully authorised to give his suggestions to the Commission for improving the electoral system,” it said.

The newspaper also reported that the nationwide rollout of the SIR had been under the supervision of all three Commissioners, but Sandhu and Joshi had formally objected, on record, at least 14 times over the last 10 months — four times on a single day — to decisions taken and orders issued without their knowledge, according to the report.

The EC said highlighting specific internal notes or observations spread over 10 months while overlooking the larger body of approvals, decisions, instructions and initiatives presented only one part of the picture.

The Commission said it was a constitutional body functioning under the mandate of Article 324 of the Constitution, statutory rules and established institutional conventions. It operates as a multi-member constitutional body, it added.

Written notes, observations, technical suggestions and internal checks and balances were standard, ongoing practices designed to ensure transparency, legal compliance and operational rigour, the EC said, adding that all its actions were in accordance with the law and instructions of the Commission.

In recent months, the Commission had taken numerous decisions, issued instructions, introduced around 40 new initiatives and undertaken several electoral reforms, including electoral roll revision through SIR across the country.

“All these decisions are an outcome of the unanimous decisions of the full Commission in the past one year,” the statement said.

The Commission said it had recently conducted major elections in Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal, along with other election-related exercises. The work involved wide-ranging administrative and operational machinery and numerous Commission approvals and instructions, it said.

The EC’s digital platforms, including ECINet, operate under strict data security protocols to prevent unauthorised tampering and manipulation, the statement said. IT security checks and audit controls were standard cybersecurity measures implemented across national databases, it added.

Statutory authorities, including Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and District Election Officers (DEOs), functioned within their statutory powers for voter registration and deletion under law, the EC said.

“The Election Commission of India remains fully committed to executing its constitutional duties with complete integrity, recognising its vital role in advancing our democracy,” the statement said.