Raipur: There is good news for those whose names are missing from the draft electoral roll published under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Chhattisgarh. The Election Commission of India has clarified that citizens who were previously registered in the electoral roll but whose names have been omitted from the new draft list can submit Form-6 to have their names re-included. No punitive or legal action will be taken against them for doing so.
During the SIR process, it was observed that many voters who were previously on the electoral roll were not included in the new draft. These individuals were hesitant to submit Form-6 because the form requires a declaration stating that the applicant is seeking to be included in the electoral roll for the first time. They feared that, despite having been registered previously, making such a declaration could lead to action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Addressing this, the Election Commission has clarified that if a citizen’s name is missing from the current draft electoral roll, they must submit Form-6 to ensure their inclusion in the final electoral roll. Submitting Form-6 in such cases—even if the individual was previously registered—will not be considered a false or incorrect declaration.
Reference to Delhi High Court Order
In its clarification, the Commission also cited a Delhi High Court judgment dated October 14, 2026. In the case Nilotpal Datta & Ors. v. Election Commission of India & Ors. (W.P. (C) No. 14955/2026), the court clarified that concerns regarding a “false declaration” in such a scenario are unfounded. Affected citizens may proceed to submit Form-6 in accordance with the rules.
Instructions to EROs Against Taking Action
The Election Commission of India has instructed all Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) not to initiate action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act against any applicant solely on the grounds that their name was previously registered in the electoral roll. However, the applicant must ensure that their name is not already registered in the current electoral roll of any other parliamentary or assembly constituency. Furthermore, the application must comply with the prescribed legal procedures and regulations.
Appeal by the Chief Electoral Officer
The Chief Electoral Officer of Chhattisgarh has appealed to all citizens of the state to check for their names in the draft electoral roll published as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). If a name is missing from the list, individuals should, without any hesitation or apprehension, ensure their registration by filling out Form-6 in a timely manner.
This clarification from the Commission brings significant relief to those existing voters whose names were not included in the draft electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
