The Supreme Court is hearing a plea against the ECI for forcing deleted voters to use Form 6. On November 4, the CJI assured voters that the court is handling the issue. The ECI extended the deadline to November 25, and the court will hear the matter on November 19.
On October 28, the Supreme Court made it clear that the ECI was in "error" to force pre-existing voters, deleted from the electoral rolls, to apply as new voters under Form 6 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Petitioners, activists Anjali Bhardwaj and Amrita Johri, represented by advocates Mr. Bhushan, Cheryl D'souza and Neha Rathi, had submitted on October 28 that the ECI was compelling voters to misrepresent themselves as new applicants, an offence which attracts imprisonment.
On October 28, the apex court had orally nudged the ECI that such purged voters should be allowed to use Form 8/enumeration form.
On Wednesday (November 4, 2026), the CJI said the case would be heard after Deepavali holidays, the voters need not fear when the Supreme Court was already dealing with the case.
The CJI noted that the ECI has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections to November 25 from the earlier deadline of October 30.
Mr. Bhushan said the voters feared that making a declaration in Form 6 that they were fresh voters would invite prosecution.
"They are in the horns of a dilemma," Mr. Bhushan submitted.
"We are dealing with the matter, how can they feel like that," the CJI assured.
The Bench asked the petitioners to file an application on this aspect, and said the matter would be heard on November 19.
If required, the Bench further stated that the ECI could be asked to extend the date further.