The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit has rejected a claim that the Election Commission of India (ECI) removed its September 26 press note related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls from its website.
The PIB Fact Check said the press note remains available on the ECI website and termed the claim that it had been taken down as false.
The clarification came after a social media claim by Cockroach Janta Party’s Ashutosh Ranka, who alleged that the ECI had removed the document following recent observations by the Supreme Court concerning changes linked to Form 6.
Dispute Over September 26 Press Note
The controversy centres on an ECI press note issued following a meeting of the full Commission on September 26, 2026.
The document outlined several decisions concerning the ongoing SIR exercise, including procedures for handling voters who received notices because of unmapped entries or logical discrepancies.
Under the revised procedure, Booth Level Officers were directed to visit the homes of such voters to collect necessary documents and upload them on the ECINet platform for consideration by the Electoral Registration Officer.
The press note also stated that such voters generally would not need to appear before the ERO or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer unless an exceptional hearing was considered necessary.
ECI Says Press Note Remains Available
The PIB Fact Check clarified that the September 26 document had not been removed from the Election Commission’s website.
The ECI also pointed to the continued availability of the press note to counter the claim that it had been withdrawn.
The clarification seeks to distinguish between the ongoing controversy over the contents of the document and the separate claim that the document itself had been deleted from the ECI website.
According to the fact-check, the latter claim is incorrect.
Supreme Court Observation Adds to Controversy
The claim about the press note emerged after a Supreme Court hearing concerning Form 6 and the SIR process.
During the October 5 hearing, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant reportedly observed that the Supreme Court had not approved modifications to Form 6. The court indicated that it wanted to examine the relevant records to determine how the changes had been made.
The observation led to questions about an assertion contained in the September 26 ECI press note concerning the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR.
The resulting debate has brought renewed attention to the procedures followed by the Election Commission during the electoral-roll revision process.
What the September 26 Note Contains
The ECI’s September 26 press note covered several administrative decisions related to SIR.
Apart from the procedure for voters receiving notices, it included directions concerning assistance for vulnerable groups and people living in night shelters, labourers and homeless citizens.
The Commission also discussed help desks and special camps to assist people during the SIR process.
The note further addressed deadlines relating to claims and objections in certain states and other administrative matters connected with the revision exercise.
Form 6 at the Centre of Debate
Form 6 is used by eligible citizens to apply for inclusion in electoral rolls. During the SIR process, an additional declaration was attached to the form, leading to questions from political groups and others over the procedure used to verify voters.
The disagreement has focused partly on whether the changes to the declaration had received the necessary approval and how they were incorporated into the SIR process.
The Supreme Court’s recent observations have added another layer to the dispute, with the court indicating that relevant records would need to be examined.
PIB Urges People to Verify Information
The PIB Fact Check has urged people, particularly social media users, to be cautious about unverified claims.
The clarification stressed the importance of checking information against credible and independently verifiable sources before sharing it online.
The issue has highlighted how quickly claims surrounding electoral procedures can spread through social media, particularly when they involve constitutional institutions and ongoing court proceedings.
SIR Debate Continues
The ECI SIR press note controversy comes amid a wider political and legal debate over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
While the PIB has rejected the claim that the September 26 press note was removed, questions surrounding the contents of the document and the changes to Form 6 remain part of the ongoing discussion.
The Election Commission’s position is that the press note continues to be available on its website. The Supreme Court’s observations, meanwhile, have brought renewed scrutiny to the process through which the Form 6 changes were introduced.
As the legal and political debate continues, the availability of the original document provides an opportunity for claims surrounding the September 26 decision to be checked against the official record.