The Election Commission of India (ECI) has told the Supreme Court that all decisions and orders linked to the SIR exercise were taken unanimously, rejecting allegations that the Chief Election Commissioner acted unilaterally.
The controversy arose after a newspaper report claimed that two Election Commissioners had raised objections multiple times over the past 10 months regarding decisions and directions connected to SIR work. Opposition parties, including the Congress, subsequently demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Petitions were filed in the Supreme Court by Rakesh Kumar Singh of Patna and advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, seeking suspension of Gyanesh Kumar until the case is decided. The court had issued notices to the Election Commission and the Union government in the matter.
In its affidavit, the ECI said the SIR-related orders issued in June and October 2025 were approved unanimously. It explained that files move from one Election Commissioner to the other and then to the Chief Election Commissioner, and that approved decisions are formally recorded with signatures before being announced and implemented by the secretariat.
The Commission also argued that recommendations or comments exchanged during the decision-making process do not amount to a decision under the 2023 law. It said the petitions rely on a newspaper report and should be dismissed, and added that it has not made any changes to Form 6 while rejecting allegations related to it.
