Supreme Court Says It Has Not Ruled on Revised Form 6 for Voter Registration

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court of India has clarified that it has neither approved nor rejected the Election Commission’s revised Form 6 for voter registration. The court said it had not yet ruled on the legal validity of the changes.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana made the clarification while hearing a petition on Monday. The bench noted that the revised form was not in existence when the court heard the case concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

Form 6 is used by people applying to register as voters for the first time. The current dispute concerns an additional declaration introduced in the online registration process during the electoral roll revision exercise.

The petition raises questions about the legal basis for the additional requirement and the procedure followed in introducing it. The court made clear that its earlier observations on the Bihar case should not be treated as judicial approval or rejection of the revised form.

The bench said the issue could be examined on its merits and listed the matter for further consideration on October 27, alongside other petitions relating to the revision of electoral rolls.

The case concerns an important aspect of the electoral process: ensuring that eligible citizens can register as voters while maintaining accurate electoral rolls. The Supreme Court has not yet delivered a final ruling on the validity of the revised Form 6, and the matter remains under judicial consideration.