Name deleted in SIR?:Officials to visit homes to collect documents; 13.37 crore names removed across 30 States/UTs so far

Amid reports of differences, CEC Gyanesh Kumar met Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi in Delhi. The Election Commission has extended the deadline for claims and objections by people whose names were removed during SIR. For those issued notices over unmapped names or record errors, BLOs will visit their homes, collect documents and upload them on the EC website. Regional Electoral Officers will decide these cases. The EC also decided to set up help desks and special camps for night-shelter residents, workers, poor and homeless people. So far, 13.37 crore names have been removed from draft voter lists across 30 states/UTs. India has over 96.88 crore voters, meaning around 14.1% of names have been removed. The meeting came amid claims of differences between Kumar and the two commissioners. After the reports emerged, Congress and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanded Kumar’s resignation. Claims can be filed in Delhi and Maharashtra until 30 October The deadline for filing claims and objections in Delhi and Maharashtra has been extended to 30 October 2026. Disputes must be resolved by 30 November in Delhi and 10 November in Maharashtra. In Goa, block officers will visit homes to collect Form 6 from voters whose names were left out. If a voter’s name is missing from the SIR list, they can claim inclusion by submitting Form 6. The Election Commission said there is no dispute over Form 6, which has also been upheld by the Supreme Court. 13.37 crore names removed during SIR According to the Election Commission, 13.37 crore names have been removed from draft electoral rolls across 30 states and Union Territories during the SIR exercise. India has more than 96.88 crore registered voters, which means the deleted names account for around 14.1% of the total electorate. Delhi, Maharashtra claims deadline extended The EC has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections in Delhi and Maharashtra to October 30, 2026. Disputes must be resolved by November 30 in Delhi and November 10 in Maharashtra. In Goa, block-level officers will visit voters’ homes to collect Form 6 from those whose names have been left out. Voters whose names are missing from the SIR list can seek inclusion by submitting Form 6. The EC said there is no dispute over the form and that the Supreme Court has upheld it. EC says commissioners’ letters were not related to SIR The Election Commission also clarified the The Indian Express report that triggered the controversy. The EC said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had written to the Cabinet Secretary about the functioning of an officer who joined the poll panel. The letters were not related to SIR or any EC decision. The Indian Express report had claimed that the letters were sent amid differences among the Election Commissioners. SIR controversy: Congress holds nationwide protests The issue comes amid the ongoing controversy over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR). A report by The Indian Express claimed that two Election Commissioners raised objections to EC decisions 14 times over the past 10 months, but their concerns were not addressed. Congress has accused Gyanesh Kumar of taking unilateral decisions and not listening to the other two commissioners. On Friday, the party held nationwide protests, demanding Kumar’s removal and arrest. A petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court over certain election-related orders and alleged software changes. ​