Rahul Gandhi alleges CEC changed Form 6 illegally, unilaterally
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had changed Form 6 "illegally and unilaterally" and said those responsible would be held accountable, after the Supreme Court clarified that it had not approved any modification to the voter registration form.
Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also shared on X a September 26 statement attributed to the Election Commission that said the declaration attached to Form 6 for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) had been upheld by the Supreme Court.
"It is now established beyond doubt that Gyanesh Kumar changed Form 6 illegally and unilaterally. This is just one more proof of him abusing his position to help the BJP," Gandhi said.
"He and everyone else involved in this criminal assault on our democracy will be held accountable," he added.
The Supreme Court on Monday said it had not approved any modification to Form 6, which is used by eligible persons seeking inclusion in the electoral roll for the first time. The bench said it would examine the records to determine who had made the changes.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also accused the CEC of lying and alleged that Form 6 had been deliberately modified to exclude young voters.
"Form 6 was deliberately modified by the CEC himself to delete Gen Z voters of whom the PM is simply terrified," Ramesh said in a post on X.
The Congress leaders' remarks came after the Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission and the Centre on pleas alleging that several decisions relating to the SIR were taken without the approval of the other two Election Commissioners.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said it would examine the decisions and could annul those found to be contrary to law.
The court, however, declined to pass an interim order restraining Kumar from taking decisions pending the disposal of the petitions.
The bench also indicated that it may examine the statutory immunity granted to the CEC after demitting office.
"We will examine all the decisions. If any decision is not in accordance with the law, we will annul it. You know the power of the court," the bench said.
On Form 6, the court made its position clear: "Any modification to Form 6 has not been approved by us. Let's be clear. When records are produced, we would like to see who has modified it."
Gandhi also referred to a post he made on October 1, in which he had alleged that the online version of Form 6 was changed illegally. He had questioned who in the Election Commission ordered Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to make the alteration and who at the company approved it.
"The online Form 6 was changed illegally -- as the EC's own Commissioners have recorded. Who at the ECI ordered Tata Consultancy Services to make that change?" Gandhi had said.
"Who at TCS signed off on it? And were they pressured into doing it?" he had asked.
