The Press Information Bureau (PIB) confirmed on Monday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not removed its September 26 press note from the official website. The note, which updated certain terms related to Form 6 for the Special Election Registration (SIR) and instructed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to collect additional notice‑related documents from voters’ homes, remains accessible.
In a fact‑check response, the PIB shared the ECI’s link to the September 26 note, countering claims made by the Cockroach Janta Party’s Ashutosh Ranka on social media. The government advisory urged the public, especially active on social media, to verify information against credible, independently verifiable sources before sharing. It warned against spreading unverified videos or claims.
The September 26 release extended SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra, revised the notice‑related procedure, and addressed allegations of friction within the Commission. An ECI source reiterated that the note is still available on the ECI website and was never taken down.
Earlier that day, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre and the ECI in a petition challenging the exercise of the poll panel’s powers. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, asked for authenticated information on the allegations and noted that decisions could be annulled if found unlawful. The petition questioned whether Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar could act alone on behalf of the multi‑member body, and the court emphasized that, in the absence of unanimity, decisions should be made by majority. The court also considered a request that decisions remain unanimous until the next hearing date, though it reaffirmed that the Commissioners are expected to act unanimously when possible.
