New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- The Election Commission of India on Wednesday said that all decisions taken by the full commission over the past year were unanimous, responding to a report that two Election Commissioners had raised objections to several decisions linked to electoral roll revision.
The poll panel said differences of opinion, observations and suggestions are a normal part of institutional deliberations and do not necessarily reflect the final decision of the commission. It said commissioners and other officers are authorised to raise suggestions during the decision-making process. The statement came after a report claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a period of 10 months. The reported concerns included changes to Form 6, electoral roll data and aspects of the technology and systems used to manage voter information.
The Election Commission said focusing on specific internal notes or observations while overlooking the wider body of approvals, decisions, instructions and initiatives gives only one part of the picture.
According to the poll panel, it has taken numerous decisions, issued instructions and introduced around 40 new initiatives in recent months, alongside electoral reforms including the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. It said all these measures were the result of unanimous decisions of the full commission during the past year. The commission also said it had conducted major elections during this period and undertaken several election-related administrative exercises requiring multiple approvals and instructions.
On concerns related to electoral data and technology, the ECI said its digital platforms, including ECINet, operate under data-security protocols designed to prevent unauthorised tampering and manipulation. It added that security checks and audit controls are standard measures used for national databases. The commission further said Electoral Registration Officers and District Election Officers exercise their powers under the law for voter registration and deletion. It maintained that all official orders, decisions and administrative directions issued by it carry legal sanction and follow established procedures.
The report about the objections has triggered a political dispute, with Opposition leaders questioning the functioning of the poll panel and seeking greater clarity on the concerns reportedly raised by the two commissioners. These political claims and demands remain separate from the Election Commission's position that final decisions of the full commission were unanimous. The ECI said differing views during the drafting and deliberation stages are part of its institutional process and reiterated its commitment to carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.