ECI tells Delhi High Court voters deleted from electoral rolls can restore names using Form 6
The Election Commission's clarification ensures seamless democratic participation for citizens affected by the Special Intensive Revision in Delhi.
The Election Commission of India has informed the Delhi High Court that citizens whose names were deleted from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision in Delhi can restore their voting status using Form 6.
Closing a writ petition on the matter, a division bench of Justices Dinesh Mehta and Aditi Choudhary held that the Election Commission's clear procedural guidance guarantees voter restoration without any legal risk.
The matter reached the court after two residents relocated from their previous addresses and were unable to complete the enumeration process during the Special Intensive Revision drive. They sought permission to restore and transfer their voter entries using Form 8 rather than applying for fresh inclusion via Form 6. The petitioners voiced concerns that submitting Form 6, which contains a clause stating an applicant is applying for the first time, could expose them to accusations of making a false declaration.
Counsel for the Election Commission assured the bench that Electoral Registration Officers are prepared to assist citizens in processing Form 6 to restore their names to the roll smoothly.
| Form | Primary usage | Application in Delhi SIR exercise |
|---|---|---|
| Form 6 | Fresh inclusion in electoral roll | Designated pathway to restore deleted voters |
| Form 8 | Correction or shifting of details | Proposed by petitioners for address updates |
The High Court ruled that the petitioners' apprehensions were misplaced, noting that the directive to use Form 6 came directly from the Election Commission's standing counsel on explicit instructions from the Electoral Registration Officer.
"Having heard the learned counsel for the parties, we are of the considered opinion that when the suggestion is coming from the learned standing counsel appearing for the ECI, that too as per the instructions of the electoral registration officer, petitioner No.1's apprehension that he would be accused of furnishing a false declaration is misplaced," the bench noted.
With the administrative route clarified to facilitate full voter participation, the court closed the proceedings, directing that any submitted Form 6 applications be processed promptly in accordance with law.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribing authority for voter restoration | Election Commission of India | Delhi High Court proceedings |
| Form required for re-inclusion | Form 6 | Election Commission of India counsel statement |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Election Commission of India | Stated to the High Court that deleted voters can submit Form 6 to restore entries. |
| Delhi | Location of the Special Intensive Revision voter roll exercise. |
| Delhi High Court | Heard and closed the petition challenging Form 6 requirement. |
