Supreme Court questions Form 6 requirement for Delhi voters

The Supreme Court of India questioned the Election Commission of India’s requirement that previously enrolled voters omitted from Delhi’s draft electoral roll apply using Form 6, a form intended for first-time registration. The bench urged the commission to consider accepting late enumeration forms and extending the October 30 deadline, but the commission has not confirmed that either step will be taken. The hearing on October 28 concerned the Special Intensive Revision of Delhi’s electoral rolls. The court asked why voters already listed in earlier rolls should have to seek fresh enrolment after being marked absent or shifted during the revision. It suggested that voters who had missed the enumeration process be allowed to submit their forms late, with supporting documents where appropriate, rather than being directed to use a form for new registrants. The scale of exclusions was described differently in submissions during the hearing. Petitioners’ counsel Prashant Bhushan told the court that about 43 lakh voters had been left off the draft list; another account of his submission put the figure at approximately 47 lakh. The revision began with about 1.45 crore electors,...