The Election Commission of India has said that all decisions taken by it, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, are the outcome of unanimous decisions of the full Commission.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ECI said it is a multi-member constitutional body functioning under Article 324 of the Constitution, statutory rules and established institutional conventions. It said written notes, observations, technical suggestions and internal checks and balances are part of its regular functioning to ensure transparency, legal compliance and operational rigour.
The Commission said all its actions are in accordance with the law and instructions of the Commission. It added that official orders, decisions and administrative directions carry full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
The ECI said operational queries or inputs raised by Commission members during the drafting stage are part of standard administrative practice and are aimed at safeguarding voter rights and improving electoral processes.
It further said that differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations before a final decision is taken. The Commission noted that all its officers are authorised to provide suggestions for improving the electoral system.
The ECI said that highlighting selected internal notes or observations from a 10-month period, while overlooking the larger body of approvals, decisions, instructions and initiatives, presents only one part of the picture.
According to the Commission, around 40 new initiatives have been introduced in recent months, along with several electoral reforms, including electoral roll revision and SIR across the country. It said all these decisions have been taken unanimously by the full Commission over the past year.
The Commission also highlighted the successful conduct of major elections in Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal, along with other election-related exercises during the period.
On its digital platforms, the ECI said systems such as ECINet operate under strict data security protocols to prevent unauthorised tampering and manipulation. It added that IT security checks and audit controls are standard cybersecurity measures implemented across national databases.
The Commission also clarified that statutory authorities, including Electoral Registration Officers and District Election Officers, function within their statutory powers for registration and deletion under the law.
-PIB
