Supreme Court questions EC on Form 6 requirement for deleted voters

The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to explain why deleted voters are being asked to file Form 6 before their names can be restored to the electoral register in Delhi. The bench expressed concerns during hearings about whether such procedural requirements might create unnecessary obstacles for eligible citizens attempting to re-register as voters.

Form 6, officially titled the Application for Inclusion of Name in Electoral Roll, is typically used for new voter registrations. The court's questioning suggests potential confusion or inconsistency in how the Election Commission has been applying voter deletion and reinclusion procedures, particularly in the context of Delhi's Special Illustrated Roll process.

The Supreme Court's intervention highlights ongoing scrutiny of electoral administration practices and their impact on voter accessibility. Officials familiar with the matter indicate that the Election Commission will need to provide detailed justification for its procedures at the next hearing.

This development comes amid broader concerns about electoral roll accuracy and voter disenfranchisement across Indian states. The court's examination of Delhi's specific procedures could have implications for how other election commissions manage deleted voter cases nationally.