New Delhi, October 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Election Commission of India (ECI) sources on Monday dismissed claims that the Commission had removed its September 26 press note on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) from its website, saying the document remains available online.
The clarification came amid ongoing protests and controversy over the SIR process. The September 26 note had modified certain provisions related to Form 6 and assigned Booth Level Officers (BLOs) the task of collecting additional documents linked to notices from voters’ homes.
The ECI had also announced extensions to SIR-related deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra and addressed allegations of differences within the Commission.
The Commission had stated in the press note that it was issued following decisions taken at its September 26 meeting and had the approval of the full Commission.
An ECI source said on Monday: “The September 26 press note is available on the ECI website. Was never taken down.”
The clarification came on a day when the Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and the ECI on a petition challenging the manner in which powers of the poll panel were being exercised.
The petition questioned whether Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was empowered to individually exercise or represent powers vested in the multi-member Election Commission.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana also sought responses from the three Election Commissioners.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the credibility of the ECI had been undermined and alleged that the CEC was acting contrary to the statutory framework governing the poll panel.
The Supreme Court said it would first require authenticated information regarding the allegations before considering the matter.
“Let’s first have authenticated information on that (the allegations). We can always annul any decision,” the Bench said.
Singh also urged the court to direct that, until the next hearing, decisions of the ECI should be taken only unanimously.
The Bench, however, observed that the Commissioners were expected to take decisions unanimously and that in the absence of unanimity, the matter would have to be decided by majority.
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