Election Commission reopens SIR claims-and-objections window in five States, extends Delhi's
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on 29 October reopened the claims-and-objections window of its special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in five States: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Nagaland and Telangana. Delhi's, due to close on 30 October, now runs to 25 November. Final rolls are due on 30 November in the five States and 22 December in Delhi.
Syllabus: GS2 · Representation of the People Act; GS2 · Constitutional Bodies
Why this matters for UPSC
GS2 polity: the Election Commission of India and the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Prelims can ask which form serves which claim and who decides; Mains, fairness in roll revision.
Why it matters
A voter in Haryana who did not return her enumeration form, and so was left off the draft roll, had missed the window to file a claim before the final list. Reopening it gives such people, and first-time voters, another chance to be listed before the rolls are made final. It also lets electors object to wrong entries. Officers must still decide each claim before the final roll, so the gain depends on how quickly and fairly they work. The larger question is how a clean-up of rolls can stay accurate without dropping eligible citizens.
Prelims pointers
- Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: a Form 7 objection comes from someone already on that roll; a Form 8 request comes from the person the entry concerns.
- An ERO rejects a claim filed late or in the wrong form; a valid one may be allowed without inquiry after a week, unless someone demands an inquiry in writing.
- Otherwise the ERO gives notice of a hearing and holds a summary inquiry, where the claimant, the objector and the person objected to may be heard.
- Appeals against an ERO's order lie to the district magistrate or an equivalent officer, then to the State's Chief Electoral Officer; an appeal does not stay the roll's final publication.
- The Representation of the People Act, 1950 requires rolls to be revised before each general election and bye-election, unless the Commission directs otherwise for reasons recorded in writing.
Practise a UPSC-style question
With reference to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, consider the following statements:
1. An objection to a particular in an existing entry of the roll is made in Form 7.
2. A claim for inclusion of a name as a new elector is made in Form 6 and signed by the applicant.
3. An application for shifting of residence, within or outside the constituency, is made in Form 8.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only. An objection to the particulars of an entry goes in Form 8, not Form 7.
Statement 1: incorrect. Under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, an objection to a particular in an entry is made in Form 8; Form 7 is for objecting to the inclusion of a name or seeking its deletion.
Statement 2: correct. A new elector's claim for inclusion of a name is made in Form 6 and signed by the applicant.
Statement 3: correct. Form 8 covers shifting of residence within or outside the constituency, and correction of entries.
Eliminate: Be sure of statement 1 first: objections to particulars go in Form 8, so it is incorrect. Out: (a), (c), (d).
Trap: Swapped attribution. Statement 1 pins an objection to the particulars of an entry on Form 7, the form for objecting to a whole name.
Remember: Form 6 to add a name, Form 7 to object to or delete a name, Form 8 to correct an entry or shift.
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