The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday extended the deadline for electors in Delhi to file claims and objections related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by one month to October 30. The poll panel also extended the deadline for disposal of notices, claims and objections to November 30.
The earlier deadline for Delhi electors whose names were missing from the draft electoral roll to file Form-6 along with supporting documents was September 30.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attended by Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi at Nirvachan Sadan.
"In view of the request received from CEO Delhi, the period for filing claims and objections has been extended by the Commission till 30th October, 2026. The period for disposal of notices and claims & objections has been extended till 30th November 2026," the ECI said.
ECI eases SIR hearing process
The Commission also relaxed provisions requiring electors who have received SIR notices to appear physically before election officials. Such electors, or their authorised representatives, can attend hearings online, with physical hearings to be held only in exceptional circumstances.
The ECI said Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would visit the homes of people who have received notices over unmapped cases and logical discrepancies to collect documents and upload them on the ECINet for consideration by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
Such electors would generally not need to appear at the ERO or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer's office. An adult family member can also be authorised to attend an online hearing on behalf of the elector, if required.
The Commission also directed District Election Officers to strengthen online hearing facilities and set up adequate help desks and special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor people and homeless citizens.
The ECI further extended the deadline for filing claims and objections in Maharashtra to October 12, while the deadline for disposal of notices, claims and objections was extended to November 10.
The poll panel said SIR has already been completed in 20 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. It added that people whose names were left out during or after the SIR can apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion through the continuous updation process.
Karnataka Congress protests against ECI
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, Karnataka Congress leaders and workers staged a protest at Freedom Park against the SIR exercise and demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest was led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B.K. Hariprasad and attended by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former Chief Minister and Union Minister Veerappa Moily, AICC Secretary Gopinath Palaniyappan and other party leaders. The Congress has been opposing aspects of the SIR process and has raised allegations concerning voter deletions and the functioning of the poll panel.
Addressing the gathering, Hariprasad said the agitation was aimed at protecting constitutional and democratic values. Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's campaign against alleged electoral irregularities, he said the party would continue its nationwide protest against what it described as the misuse of powers by election authorities.
Hariprasad alleged that eligible voters had been removed from electoral rolls in several states and claimed that similar exercises had affected voters in Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana, Maharashtra and other states. He also alleged that more than one crore voters had been removed from Karnataka's electoral rolls.
The Election Commission has maintained that electoral-roll revision is conducted under the prescribed legal and statutory framework.
Hariprasad also criticised the 2023 law governing the appointment of the CEC and Election Commissioners, alleging that removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel weakened institutional checks and balances.
He said the Congress agitation would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigned and called on party workers to intensify protests at district headquarters.
The SIR process has become a major political issue, with opposition parties raising concerns over voter deletions and the functioning of the Election Commission, while the poll panel has defended the exercise and announced measures to facilitate the submission of documents and hearings.
