Two Election Commissioners recorded objections on multiple occasions to decisions involving electoral-roll management, according to an Indian Express investigation, while the Election Commission described the notes as part of its normal deliberative process.
According to The Indian Express report shown in the supplied clipping, two members of the three-member Election Commission recorded objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period to decisions touching on core aspects of the Commission’s mandate.
The issues cited in the report included who gets registered as a voter, who gets deleted and restored, who can appeal against restorations, and who controls systems through which electoral rolls are maintained.
The report said the Election Commission characterised these notes as “suggestions” and “inputs” that formed part of normal deliberations within the institution.
The Commission also maintained that important decisions taken over the past year followed its established decision-making process.
The newspaper report highlighted concerns relating to additions and deletions from electoral rolls, changes involving Form 6, appeals in West Bengal and the chain of command associated with ECINet.
The clipping follows an earlier Indian Express investigation published on September 23 that examined objections recorded by Election Commissioners over a 10-month period.
The latest report said questions remained around some of the issues raised during those internal deliberations, including the appeals process in West Bengal and aspects of Form 6 and ECINet.
