- ECI files counter-affidavit in Supreme Court on dissent issue.
- Notes, queries by CEC/ECs not considered Commission's final decision.
- ECI rejects claims of unilateral decisions by Chief Election Commissioner.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court, addressing the issue of "dissent" in the poll body. On the internal notes (published in the media) issue, the ECI did not reject the CEC and Election Commissioners' internal notes claims but clarified that they were not decisions of the Commission.
The ECI, in the affidavit, asserted that notes, queries or suggestions by the CEC or ECs "do not constitute a decision" of the Commission, which means the poll body did not deny the disagreements among three commissioners. However, the ECI rejected the petitioner's claim of unilateral decisions by the CEC.
News Alert! Election Commission files affidavit in Supreme Court claiming all decisions on SIR were taken unanimously.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 26, 2026
ALSO READ: Form 6 Not Amended, Only Centre Can Do It: ECI Tells SC On Plea Against SIR Changes
ECI Defends SIR Decisions
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Defending all decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, which aims to clean the electoral roll, the Election Commission asserted that all decisions on SIR were taken unanimously. Explaining the decision-making process, the poll body stated that three members are appointed to the Commission so that, in case of a difference of opinion, a majority can be arrived at. Hence, all the decisions were taken by majority or unanimously.
The poll body rejected the petitioner's inferences drawn from those records (notes). The Commission has neither released nor authorised the release of any internal note/file to any news agency, it added.
ALSO READ: ECI Calls SIR Orders 'Unanimous' But Doesn't Deny Dissent Notes In 15-Point SC Affidavit
ECI Reiterates Its Stand On Form 6
The poll body denied the allegations of unilateral decision-making by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on the Form 6. The poll body said the Form 6 has not been amended, as only the Centre can amend it. The SIR declaration is a separate document, the ECI said.
However, the poll body admitted that the online display could be read as an amendment. From October 21, the online application will be split into Form 6 and the declaration, as in the physical form, it said.