In an unexpected development, more than a hundred micro-observers appointed by the Election Commission (EC) for Special Summary Revision (SIR) duties in West Bengal have sought exemption, merely hours after receiving their official appointments. The applications, citing a range of personal reasons from family emergencies to distant postings, were submitted to the state's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, on Wednesday.
Reasons Behind the Pleas for Relief
The Election Commission had appointed close to 4,600 micro-observers from lists of officers belonging to central government departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs), including nationalised banks, at Group B level and above. Their critical role involves being present during the SIR hearings for unmapped voters, scheduled to commence on December 27, and monitoring the work of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs).
However, after attending a mandatory training session at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata, a significant number of these appointed officials proceeded directly to the CEO's office in Dalhousie to submit their applications for relief. An official at the CEO office confirmed that over 100 applications were received offline, with several more sent via email.
Personal Hardships and Logistical Challenges Cited
The reasons provided by the appointees paint a picture of genuine personal and logistical difficulties. Parikshit Pandey, an officer with a PSU bank, was posted to the Canning-II assembly constituency despite residing in Durgapur. He cited the long distance and his physical disability as grounds for his application.
Subhankar Nandi, another PSU bank official from Hooghly, found himself appointed to the Islampur constituency in North Dinajpur. He pleaded for either relief or a posting closer to home, stating, "My mother is ill and my wife is also undergoing treatment."
Other cases include:
- Shawan Chakraborty, a Shyamnagar resident, expressed surprise at his appointment as he is a clerk still under probation, not an officer.
- Pradeep Verma requested exemption due to his sister's wedding in February.
- Swarnadeep Pal and Sourav Ojha applied for a swap in their postings to Asansol and Habra.
- Three life insurance development officers—Rajarsi Thakur, Susobhan Rakshit, and Vicky Gupta—sought relief only for December 28 as they have a job exam scheduled that day.
EC's Response and Contingency Plans
A senior EC official addressed the situation, stating that each application would be reviewed on a case-to-case basis. The official revealed a built-in buffer, noting, "We appointed 1,000 micro-observers more than the required number. So this should not be a problem." However, he added a firm condition: all appointed micro-observers must report for duty on the first day before their applications for relief are considered.
Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal clarified that all the appointed officials were already working within West Bengal, with no appointments from other states. The micro-observers are tasked with aiding electoral roll observers in preparing error-free electoral rolls for the state, a foundational process for ensuring fair elections.
This last-minute scramble highlights the practical challenges in mobilising a large force of government officials for election-related duties, especially when personal circumstances and the vast geography of a state like West Bengal come into play. The EC's handling of these requests will be closely watched as the crucial SIR process begins.
