SIR-excluded voters can reapply without fear of 'false declaration' charges: ECI clears air

New Delhi: Clearing the air over the controversy surrounding the legality of voters left out of the SIR of electoral rolls filing Form 6 (for new voters) to seek re-inclusion, ECI on Tuesday clarified that doing so does not amount to a "false declaration" and, therefore, should not attract any penalties.

In a communication to all CEOs, ECI cited a Delhi HC order in Nilotpal Datta & Anr. v. ECI & Ors. (W.P. (C) No. 14955/2026), which held that voters' apprehensions about facing false declaration charges were "misplaced".

The clarification primarily addresses the growing hesitation among previously registered electors, who feared that filling Form 6, which mandates declaring that one's name is being included for the first time, could amount to making a "false declaration" and invite criminal action.