SIR decisions unanimous, internal observations part of normal process: Election Commission

New Delhi, September 23: The Election Commission of India said on Wednesday that its decisions over the past year were unanimous. It described written notes and differing views among its members as part of normal deliberation before final decisions are taken.

In a press note issued after The Indian Express reported objections by two Election Commissioners to steps concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the poll panel said highlighting specific internal notes from a 10-month period presented only one part of the picture. The note did not address the individual cases cited in the investigation.

The Commission said its orders, decisions and administrative directions carried legal sanction and followed procedures under the 2023 law governing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. Operational questions raised during drafting were standard practice intended to safeguard voter rights, it said.

"Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution," the note said. Every officer of the Commission, not only its three members, could offer suggestions for improving the electoral system, it added.

The poll panel said it had issued numerous decisions and instructions and introduced around 40 initiatives in recent months. It described these, including the SIR, as outcomes of unanimous decisions of the full Commission over the past year.

Addressing concerns about digital electoral-roll systems, the ECI said ECINet operated under data-security protocols to prevent unauthorised tampering. It said IT security checks and audit controls were standard measures across national databases. Electoral Registration Officers and District Election Officers continued to exercise their statutory powers over registration and deletion, it said.

The Commission also pointed to elections in Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal conducted during the period. These exercises involved administrative and operational approvals by the Commission, it said.

The press note, dated September 23, was signed by Deputy Director P. Pawan. It however, did not set out a case-by-case response to the reported objections concerning Form 6, electoral-roll database access, West Bengal appeals or the Goa rollback issue.