Full Breakdown
Former Home Secretary R.K. Singh Accuses CEC Gyanesh Kumar of Illegal Nationwide Voter-Roll Revision
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Allegations Over the Special Intensive Revision
On September 28, 2026, retired IAS officer and former Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh posted an open letter on X alleging that the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls violates the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RP Act). Singh says the nationwide revision, the use of revised rolls while appeals were pending, and the removal of voters’ names without statutory enquiry constitute “illegalities” by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and “his bosses.” He calls for criminal cases against the CEC and urges opposition parties to boycott elections until the commission resigns.
Background & Context: SIR and Legal Framework
The SIR is a door-to-door exercise that began in Bihar in 2025 and has since been extended to other states. Section 21 of the RP Act permits a “special revision” only in special cases, for a specific constituency or part thereof, with reasons recorded in writing. Section 22 limits name deletions to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) after a specific enquiry, a reasonable hearing, and disposal of any appeals. Singh argues that applying a special revision to the entire country breaches both sections. He also cites the Supreme Court’s 1995 judgment in *Lal Babu Hussain v. Electoral Registration Officer* that places the burden of proof on the authority, not the voter.
Data & Statistics: Scale of Deletions
Singh states that roughly 13 crore names—about 13 percent of the electorate—have been deleted through the SIR and that the exercise is still ongoing. He notes that 16 lakh voters deemed eligible by EROs in West Bengal were excluded after appeals were filed, and 97 voters in Goa remained off the roll despite ERO validation. Singh links the deletion figure to the narrow 3 percent margin between the NDA and the INDIA alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, suggesting the deletions could affect outcomes.
Official Statements & Responses
The Election Commission says the declaration attached to Form 6 for the SIR was upheld by the Supreme Court and that the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, will be used during non-SIR periods. An internal press note dated September 26 indicated that the three commissioners—Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Vivek Joshi—unanimously approved the SIR orders after internal objections were raised. The commission has not publicly responded to Singh’s specific allegation that the CEC acted unilaterally.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Singh’s allegations rest on his interpretation of Sections 21 and 22 of the RP Act and on the claim that the Supreme Court’s order upholding the SIR is “wrong.” The Election Commission maintains that the SIR complies with the law and that the Supreme Court’s judgment is binding. No independent audit of the deletions has been released, leaving a factual gap regarding the exact number of voters affected and the legal justification for using revised rolls before appeal resolution.
What’s Next
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition next week challenging the functioning of the Election Commission under CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the nationwide SIR. The hearing may address the legality of the nationwide intensive revision, the use of revised rolls pending appeals, and the procedural role of the CEC versus the full commission.