SC Questions Exclusion Of Voters From Delhi SIR Draft Rolls, Flags Gaps In Process

Last Updated:October 28, 2026, 4:41 PM IST

The top court questioned the requirement for already-enrolled voters who have shifted residences to submit Form 6 to get their names included in the electoral rolls.

The bench also flagged gaps in the process for voters marked as absent or untraceable, pointing to the challenges faced by migrant workers, daily-wage earners and other sections of the population who frequently move from one place to another. (File Image)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the exclusion of voters from the draft electoral rolls prepared as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Delhi, flagging gaps in the enumeration process and highlighting the difficulties faced by voters who have shifted residences or been marked absent or untraceable.

The top court questioned the requirement for already-enrolled voters who have shifted residences to submit Form 6 to get their names included in the electoral rolls. It observed that such voters should be allowed to submit enumeration forms along with Form 8, which is used to update an elector’s address or other particulars.

The bench also flagged gaps in the process for voters marked as absent or untraceable, pointing to the challenges faced by migrant workers, daily-wage earners and other sections of the population who frequently move from one place to another.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant questioned the need for strict enumeration deadlines in the absence of any imminent elections in Delhi. The court also urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to consider accepting late enumeration forms before the final electoral rolls are prepared to ensure that eligible voters are not left out of the electoral process.

47.5 Lakh Names Excluded From Delhi’s Draft Electoral Rolls

As many as 47.5 lakh names were excluded from Delhi’s draft electoral rolls during the SIR exercise. Of the 1.45 crore electors enrolled at the start of the revision, 97.53 lakh names featured in the draft rolls published on August 31, while 47.5 lakh were categorised as absent, shifted, dead or duplicate (ASDD).

Following the publication of the draft rolls, the Election Commission received 2.67 lakh Form 6 applications till October 26 from voters seeking inclusion in the final electoral rolls, scheduled to be published on December 4. Of these, 27,510 applications were received at special camps.

Among the applications received at the special camps, 549 Form 6 applications came from homeless people, transgender persons and sex workers. The camps for these groups received 557 applications in total, including seven Form 8 applications seeking a change of residence or correction of entries and one Form 7 application raising an objection to a proposed inclusion or deletion, according to data from the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

Over 38,000 Applications Received During Special Drives

The poll body received 38,849 applications during the special registration drives, including 27,510 Form 6 applications, 10,729 Form 8 applications and 610 Form 7 applications, the data showed.

To facilitate voter registration and help eligible electors update their details, the Election Commission organised more than 1.49 lakh camps across 14,947 polling stations, colleges and universities. Special camps were also organised for homeless people, transgender persons and sex workers.

Of the total applications received at the camps, 36,305 were collected at polling station locations. These comprised 25,255 Form 6 applications, 10,441 Form 8 applications and 609 Form 7 applications.

The highest number of applications was recorded on September 27, when the camps received 9,067 forms, including 6,060 Form 6 applications and 2,829 Form 8 applications.

The final round of camps, held on October 25, received 4,388 applications. These included 3,265 Form 6 applications, 1,004 Form 8 applications and 119 Form 7 applications.

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How many names were excluded from Delhi’s draft electoral rolls during the SIR exercise?

As many as 47.5 lakh names were excluded from Delhi’s draft electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Out of 1.45 crore initial electors, 97.53 lakh names appeared in the draft rolls published on August 31, while 47.5 lakh were categorised as absent, shifted, dead, or duplicate.

Why did the Supreme Court question the Election Commission regarding Delhi’s draft electoral rolls?

The Supreme Court questioned the exclusion of voters and the requirement for already-enrolled voters who shifted residences to submit Form 6, which is meant for first-time registration. The court observed that such voters should instead be permitted to submit enumeration forms along with Form 8.

What actions did the Election Commission take to help voters update or register their details?

The Election Commission organized more than 1.49 lakh camps across polling stations, colleges, and universities to assist eligible electors. The poll body received a total of 38,849 applications during these special registration drives, which included Form 6, Form 8, and Form 7 applications.

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Ananya BhatnagarPrincipal Correspondent

Ananya Bhatnagar, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convic…Read More

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