The Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Tuesday that no political party had sought an appointment with the poll panel before 4 pm, as the INDIA bloc staged protest over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.Opposition MPs led by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters, demanding a meeting with the poll panel and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.&nbsp;&nbsp;The march was stopped by police before the leaders could reach the ECI office, following which several Opposition MPs staged a sit-in.&nbsp;After the high-voltage protest, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others were detained by the Delhi Police from Akashvani Bhawan, where they staged a dharna against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.&nbsp;The ECI issued a press note later in the day, saying the Delhi Police informed it at around 4 pm that a delegation of MPs led by Rahul Gandhi wanted to meet and submit a memorandum.&nbsp;The Delhi Police’s deputy commissioner informed the EC that the proposed meeting involved around 240 MPs and was to take place at the Parliament House Annexe.&nbsp;&nbsp;The poll panel said its established procedure required political parties or joint delegations of parties to seek an appointment through their authorised representatives.&nbsp;<h2>EC considered ‘unusual’ request and declined it, citing protocol</h2>&nbsp;“The Election Commission of India had laid down a procedure in 2025 for meetings with political parties. All political parties have been informed about this procedure and follow it. Whenever a delegation of a political party, or a joint delegation of several parties, wishes to meet the Commission, it seeks an appointment through its duly authorised representative. The meeting is then held at a time mutually agreed upon by both sides,” the statement read.&nbsp;The ECI said it considered the request “unusual” and declined it, citing its protocol that such meetings are held at the Commission’s premises.&nbsp;“When the Election Commission was considering the proposal for the meeting with the MPs after 4 pm today, the DCP of Delhi Police informed it that the meeting being sought was with a group of 240 MPs and that the proposed venue was Parliament House Annexe. The Election Commission considered this request unusual and could not accept it because, as per protocol, such meetings are held only at the premises of the Election Commission of India,” the statement read.&nbsp;The Commission offered to send its most senior serving officer to the Parliament Annexe to receive the memorandum from the MPs, but the MPs declined it.“Any political party can request a meeting with the Election Commission at any time, and the Commission can, depending on the availability of time, decide the date and time of the meeting. This is a normal process,” the statement read.&nbsp;

The ECI found the request to be unusual and declined it, citing its protocol that such meetings are held at its premises. The Commission offered to send its most senior serving officer to the Parliament Annexe to receive the memorandum from the MPs, but the MPs declined it.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Tuesday that no political party had sought an appointment with the poll panel before 4 pm, as the INDIA bloc staged protest over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. Opposition MPs led by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters, demanding a meeting with the poll panel and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The march was stopped by police before the leaders could reach the ECI office, following which several Opposition MPs staged a sit-in. After the high-voltage protest, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others were detained by the Delhi Police from Akashvani Bhawan, where they staged a dharna against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The ECI issued a press note later in the day, saying the Delhi Police informed it at around 4 pm that a delegation of MPs led by Rahul Gandhi wanted to meet and submit a memorandum. The Delhi Police’s deputy commissioner informed the EC that the proposed meeting involved around 240 MPs and was to take place at the Parliament House Annexe. The poll panel said its established procedure required political parties or joint delegations of parties to seek an appointment through their authorised representatives. EC considered ‘unusual’ request and declined it, citing protocol “The Election Commission of India had laid down a procedure in 2025 for meetings with political parties. All political parties have been informed about this procedure and follow it. Whenever a delegation of a political party, or a joint delegation of several parties, wishes to meet the Commission, it seeks an appointment through its duly authorised representative. The meeting is then held at a time mutually agreed upon by both sides,” the statement read. The ECI said it considered the request “unusual” and declined it, citing its protocol that such meetings are held at the Commission’s premises. “When the Election Commission was considering the proposal for the meeting with the MPs after 4 pm today, the DCP of Delhi Police informed it that the meeting being sought was with a group of 240 MPs and that the proposed venue was Parliament House Annexe. The Election Commission considered this request unusual and could not accept it because, as per protocol, such meetings are held only at the premises of the Election Commission of India,” the statement read. The Commission offered to send its most senior serving officer to the Parliament Annexe to receive the memorandum from the MPs, but the MPs declined it. “Any political party can request a meeting with the Election Commission at any time, and the Commission can, depending on the availability of time, decide the date and time of the meeting. This is a normal process,” the statement read.

The ECI found the request to be unusual and declined it, citing its protocol that such meetings are held at its premises. The Commission offered to send its most senior serving officer to the Parliament Annexe to receive the memorandum from the MPs, but the MPs declined it.

‘No party sought meeting till 4 pm,’ says EC on INDIA bloc protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, on Thursday said that the Supreme Court has not approved any modification to Form 6 used for the inclusion of the names of first-time voters in the electoral rolls in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision. This is a direct and explicit contradiction to the ECI press note of September 26, which claimed that the Supreme Court had upheld the Form 6 declaration in the May 2026 judgment relating to Bihar SIR."Any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us. Let's be clear. When the record is produced, we would like to see who has modified it," CJI Surya Kant observed.The changes to Form 6 mandated that first-time voters who wish to be included in the electoral roll must disclose whether their parents or grandparents were mapped in earlier SIR, even though the statutory form itself remains unamended. The alteration of Form 6 can not be carried out without amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The Indian Express expose showed that two Election Commissioners had raised objections to these modifications, drawing political and administrative backlash on the Election Commission of India and the exercise of power by the Chief Election Commissioner.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yemen-offensive-retake-houthi-held-territory-taiz-bab-el-mandeb-1791138408494">Yemen launches major offensive to retake Houthi-held territory</a>The Supreme Court's May 27, 2026 judgment on the Bihar Special Intensive Revision had generally upheld the power of the Election Commission to carry out all roll revisions and tailored documentation. Though the judgment was about Annexure D, concerning age, residence, and citizenship, it did not discuss modification of Form 6 and the addition of a different declaration seeking the SIR mapping of relatives, which was introduced later in July and was never directly before the Court.The Election Commission, however, removed the SIR declaration added to Form 6 from its ECINET application portal, where SIR has concluded. It announced on September 6, “for non-SIR period, the Forms applicable as per Rules (the Registration of Electors Rules 1960) will be used”.The bench comprising the CJI, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was hearing a petition filed by Adv Shailendra Mani Tripathi seeking the quashing of the 14 decisions which were allegedly taken unilaterally. The ECI has issued a notice on the petition to the Union Government, the Election Commission of India (ECI), and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, seeking official files and records on major decisions, including whether major decisions involving deletion of voters from SIR and modifications to Form 6 were taken unilaterally or unanimously.

CJI Surya Kant said the Supreme Court never approved changes to Form 6, contradicting the ECI's September 26 claim on the Bihar SIR judgment.

The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, on Thursday said that the Supreme Court has not approved any modification to Form 6 used for the inclusion of the names of first-time voters in the electoral rolls in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision. This is a direct and explicit contradiction to the ECI press note of September 26, which claimed that the Supreme Court had upheld the Form 6 declaration in the May 2026 judgment relating to Bihar SIR. "Any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us. Let's be clear. When the record is produced, we would like to see who has modified it," CJI Surya Kant observed. The changes to Form 6 mandated that first-time voters who wish to be included in the electoral roll must disclose whether their parents or grandparents were mapped in earlier SIR, even though the statutory form itself remains unamended. The alteration of Form 6 can not be carried out without amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The Indian Express expose showed that two Election Commissioners had raised objections to these modifications, drawing political and administrative backlash on the Election Commission of India and the exercise of power by the Chief Election Commissioner. Also Read: Yemen launches major offensive to retake Houthi-held territory The Supreme Court's May 27, 2026 judgment on the Bihar Special Intensive Revision had generally upheld the power of the Election Commission to carry out all roll revisions and tailored documentation. Though the judgment was about Annexure D, concerning age, residence, and citizenship, it did not discuss modification of Form 6 and the addition of a different declaration seeking the SIR mapping of relatives, which was introduced later in July and was never directly before the Court. The Election Commission, however, removed the SIR declaration added to Form 6 from its ECINET application portal, where SIR has concluded. It announced on September 6, “for non-SIR period, the Forms applicable as per Rules (the Registration of Electors Rules 1960) will be used”. The bench comprising the CJI, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was hearing a petition filed by Adv Shailendra Mani Tripathi seeking the quashing of the 14 decisions which were allegedly taken unilaterally. The ECI has issued a notice on the petition to the Union Government, the Election Commission of India (ECI), and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, seeking official files and records on major decisions, including whether major decisions involving deletion of voters from SIR and modifications to Form 6 were taken unilaterally or unanimously.

CJI Surya Kant said the Supreme Court never approved changes to Form 6, contradicting the ECI's September 26 claim on the Bihar SIR judgment.

CJI Surya Kant says Supreme Court never approved modified Form 6 for SIR

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi met at the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday (Sep 26), amid questions over internal differences within the poll panel and the functioning of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.The meeting, held at 3 pm, was followed by a detailed press note in which the Election Commission addressed several issues, including reports of dissent, the SIR process, Form 6, ECINET and a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary.The clarification came after a report by The Indian Express claimed Sandhu and Joshi had objected multiple times to decisions taken by the Commission. The ECI, however, said the SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, covering all states and Union Territories, had the “unanimous approval of the Commission”.The Commission said the schedules for 12 states and UTs issued on October 27, 2025, and for another 19 states and UTs issued on May 14, 2026, were also approved unanimously.<h2>EC explains Cabinet Secretary letter</h2>The poll panel also sought to clarify the controversy surrounding its communication to the Cabinet Secretary. It said the letter was “not related to any policy matter of the Commission or IT division but related to working of an officer on deputation to the ECI”“The work redistribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not actually implemented after the orders of the two Commissioners, and the oversight over the IT division by the DEC was never actually withdrawn,” the ECI added in its press note.<h2>New process for SIR-flagged voters</h2>The Commission said Booth Level Officers will visit voters flagged as “unmapped” or having logical discrepancies to collect documents and upload them on ECINET.Such voters “need not be called for hearing to ERO/AERO office”. Hearings will be held only in exceptional cases and preferably online. An adult family member can also attend on behalf of the elector.The ECI directed officials to organise help desks and special camps for labourers, homeless people, poor citizens and those living in night shelters.<h2>ECINET to undergo review</h2>The Commission has also formed a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, with an independent IIT or IIIT expert, to review ECINET's compliance with electoral laws.Meanwhile, SIR claims and objections deadlines were extended in Delhi and Maharashtra. Delhi's filing deadline is now October 30, while Maharashtra’s is October 12.The ECI said SIR has been completed in 20 states and UTs, including Bihar and West Bengal. The final elector count will be known after the remaining Phase III states complete the process.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar-led Election Commission meeting addresses SIR dissent reports, clarifies unanimous approvals, eases voter hearings, orders ECINET review and extends claims deadlines.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi met at the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday (Sep 26), amid questions over internal differences within the poll panel and the functioning of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The meeting, held at 3 pm, was followed by a detailed press note in which the Election Commission addressed several issues, including reports of dissent, the SIR process, Form 6, ECINET and a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary. The clarification came after a report by The Indian Express claimed Sandhu and Joshi had objected multiple times to decisions taken by the Commission. The ECI, however, said the SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, covering all states and Union Territories, had the “unanimous approval of the Commission”. The Commission said the schedules for 12 states and UTs issued on October 27, 2025, and for another 19 states and UTs issued on May 14, 2026, were also approved unanimously. EC explains Cabinet Secretary letter The poll panel also sought to clarify the controversy surrounding its communication to the Cabinet Secretary. It said the letter was “not related to any policy matter of the Commission or IT division but related to working of an officer on deputation to the ECI” “The work redistribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not actually implemented after the orders of the two Commissioners, and the oversight over the IT division by the DEC was never actually withdrawn,” the ECI added in its press note. New process for SIR-flagged voters The Commission said Booth Level Officers will visit voters flagged as “unmapped” or having logical discrepancies to collect documents and upload them on ECINET. Such voters “need not be called for hearing to ERO/AERO office”. Hearings will be held only in exceptional cases and preferably online. An adult family member can also attend on behalf of the elector. The ECI directed officials to organise help desks and special camps for labourers, homeless people, poor citizens and those living in night shelters. ECINET to undergo review The Commission has also formed a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, with an independent IIT or IIIT expert, to review ECINET's compliance with electoral laws. Meanwhile, SIR claims and objections deadlines were extended in Delhi and Maharashtra. Delhi's filing deadline is now October 30, while Maharashtra’s is October 12. The ECI said SIR has been completed in 20 states and UTs, including Bihar and West Bengal. The final elector count will be known after the remaining Phase III states complete the process.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar-led Election Commission meeting addresses SIR dissent reports, clarifies unanimous approvals, eases voter hearings, orders ECINET review and extends claims deadlines.

SIR row: Gyanesh Kumar-led ECI clarifies dissent claims, says key decisions approved unanimously

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‘No party sought meeting till 4 pm,’ says EC on INDIA bloc protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

CJI Surya Kant says Supreme Court never approved modified Form 6 for SIR

SIR row: ECI clarifies dissent claims, says decisions approved unanimously