The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that it had neither approved nor disapproved the Election Commission's new Form 6 for voter registration, saying the issue was not adjudicated upon during hearings on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said the court had only observed that the revised form was not part of the Bihar SIR proceedings and had not ruled on its validity.
“There is no adjudication on the new Form 6. That is all we have said,” Justice Bagchi said, adding that the court would examine the issue.
The clarification came during a hearing on a petition challenging changes to Form 6, which eligible individuals use to apply for inclusion in electoral rolls. Advocate Narendra Mishra, appearing for the petitioner, told the bench that the Election Commission had claimed that the Supreme Court had approved the revised form.
Mishra referred to the court's October 5 observation that it had not approved modifications to Form 6, and alleged that the poll panel had nevertheless suggested otherwise in a September 26 press release. The release had stated that the Supreme Court upheld the Form 6 declaration in its May 2026 judgment concerning the Bihar SIR, reported Live Law.
The petition challenges the addition of requirements relating to ancestral details and links to the previous SIR, alleging that these were introduced through the Election Commission's software without the statutory amendment required under electoral rules.
It also cites Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, which provides for decision-making by the Election Commission and says the majority view prevails in the event of a difference of opinion.
During Monday's hearing, the bench cautioned counsel against interpreting the court's earlier remarks as a ruling either for or against the revised form. It agreed to issue notice on the petition and said the matter would be heard on October 27, along with similar pending petitions concerning the SIR and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
(With agency inputs from PTI)
