Supreme Court on Monday clarified that it had neither approved nor rejected the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) modified Form 6 declaration for new voter registration, stating that the revised form was not before it when it delivered its judgment in the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls case.
The BJP rejected the allegations. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra maintained that the Supreme Court had neither declared the form illegal nor rejected it. He also disputed the interpretation that the apex court had established any illegality in the modification.
Two Election Commissioners reportedly objected to the changes, arguing that the declaration could not be modified without an amendment to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, by the Central government.
Responding to the submission, Justice Bagchi said the court had not adjudicated on the revised Form 6, pointing out that the modified declaration did not exist when the judgment in the Bihar SIR case was delivered. The revised Form 6 has also triggered a political confrontation between the BJP and the opposition.
“Please don’t pick words for news items”, he said. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the form had been altered unilaterally and illegally to benefit the BJP.
