EC Makes Parents’ SIR Details Mandatory for New Voters: Here’s What It Means
New Delhi, July 12: The Election Commission (EC) has made it mandatory for new voters applying for inclusion in the electoral rolls through Form 6 to provide their parents’ Special Intensive Revision (SIR) details as part of the application process.
According to Election Commission officials, the requirement is not limited to existing voters undergoing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. It also applies to new applicants seeking to register as voters.
Parents’ SIR Declaration Now Required with Form 6
The EC has issued fresh instructions requiring every new voter to attach a declaration containing their parents’ SIR details while submitting Form 6. The declaration was first introduced during the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) launched in June last year.
Officials clarified that the declaration has been made mandatory through administrative instructions, while the existing Form 6 itself has not been formally amended.
An Election Commission official said the declaration helps authorities map electors more accurately and reduces the number of supporting documents that applicants need to submit during voter registration.
Online Form 6 Submission Blocked Without Declaration
The Election Commission has also integrated the requirement into its online registration system. Applicants filling Form 6 online cannot proceed with their voter registration unless they complete the mandatory parents’ SIR declaration.
Officials said the move is intended to simplify verification and improve the accuracy of electoral rolls.
EC Defends Special Intensive Revision Process
The Election Commission has defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, describing it as transparent, constitutional and consistent with directions upheld by the Supreme Court.
According to the EC, the objective of the SIR exercise is to:
- Include all eligible Indian citizens in electoral rolls.
- Remove duplicate voter entries.
- Delete names of deceased voters.
- Remove voters who have permanently shifted.
- Eliminate absent and foreign voters from the electoral database.
EC Rejects Allegations of Bias
The poll body also rejected allegations regarding large-scale deletion of minority voters, including concerns raised over electoral roll revisions in Nandigram, West Bengal.
Election Commission officials stated that eligible voters were provided sufficient opportunities to challenge exclusions and maintained that the revision process was conducted without bias.
UN Rapporteurs Raise Transparency Concerns
The development comes after UN Special Rapporteurs recently expressed concerns in a letter to the Government of India, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision process lacks transparency.
However, the Election Commission has reiterated that the exercise is being conducted strictly within the constitutional framework to ensure free, fair and accurate electoral rolls across the country.
The new requirement is expected to strengthen voter verification while improving the integrity of India’s electoral database as the Election Commission continues its nationwide revision of electoral rolls.
