New Delhi, September 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), including claims concerning electoral rolls, voter registration and internal decision-making.
The plea, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, seeks directions for an investigation into the alleged deletion of around 13 crore names from electoral rolls, restoration of the original Form 6 used for voter registration and reversal of decisions allegedly taken without the approval of the full Commission. The filing is also reflected in Supreme Court records in proceedings involving Tripathi.
The petition relies on documents and media reports published on September 23 concerning written objections allegedly raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over decisions within the poll panel.
According to the plea, the two Election Commissioners recorded written dissents and objections on at least 14 occasions between November 2025 and August 2026. The objections allegedly concerned the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, information technology systems and other administrative decisions.
The petition alleges that changes were made to Form 6 by the ECI’s IT division, including making “last SIR” linkage mandatory for first-time voters, without an amendment to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
It further alleges that the statutory powers of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) were curtailed through the centralisation of electoral roll management under the Director General of IT.
Referring to the case of 97 electors in Goa, the plea claimed that EROs were unable to restore their names despite finding them eligible because the ECINet system did not have a “rollback/reversal” facility.
Another allegation relates to West Bengal, where the petition claimed that 16.10 lakh appeals were filed in the name of the ECI against citizens whose names had been restored by judicial officers during the SIR exercise.
The petitioner has also challenged an administrative order issued on July 28 by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg, alleging that it altered the IT oversight structure without approval of the full Commission.
According to the plea, Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi subsequently wrote to Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan objecting to the order and alleging that it violated Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.
The petition contends that if alleged manipulation of electoral rolls is established, such acts would fall outside the scope of official duties and would not be entitled to statutory protection. It has sought an investigation into the alleged irregularities and appropriate criminal proceedings against those found responsible.
The PIL comes amid a public debate over reported differences within the three-member ECI. The Commission, however, rejected suggestions on September 23 that the differences amounted to an institutional “rupture”, maintaining that internal objections and written notes are established mechanisms in a multi-member constitutional body.
The ECI has said its decisions are governed by the 2023 law and that differences within the Commission are resolved through majority decisions.
The allegations raised in the PIL remain subject to judicial consideration and do not constitute findings against the ECI or its officials.
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