ECI's growing credibility crisis

Gist The Election Commission of India ECI has sparked controversy by unilaterally altering Form 6 during its Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls, demanding citizenship proofs that go beyond existing statutory rules. This move, coupled with the systemic misuse of Form 7 for mass voter deletions and the centralization of electoral data via ECINet , has drawn unprecedented dissent from within the Commission itself. For a civil services aspirant, this development is crucial as it highlights the tension between the ECI's administrative overreach, its statutory limitations under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 , and the safeguarding of universal adult suffrage. Background The Election Commission of India ECI is a constitutional body mandated under Article 324 to superintend, direct, and control elections. The preparation and revision of electoral rolls are governed by the Representation of the People Act RPA , 1950 , and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 . Previously, enrolling as a first-time voter or shifting constituencies required submitting Form 6 with basic identity and residence proofs, relying on a self-declaration for citizenship to satisfy Article…