The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a critical phase of electoral roll revision in West Bengal, commencing hearings to decide the fate of approximately 32 lakh voters classified as 'unmapped'. In a significant move, the Commission has barred political party agents from these proceedings, allowing only designated officials and micro-observers to be present.
Exclusive Official Presence at Hearings
The hearings, part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, began on December 27, 2025. The ECI has stipulated that only Booth Level Officers (BLOs), their supervisors, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and centrally-appointed micro-observers can attend. This explicitly excludes Booth Level Agents (BLAs), who are representatives of political parties involved in earlier document collection stages.
A senior ECI official explained that the exclusion of BLAs is intended to "avoid unnecessary chaos" and uphold the integrity of the process. "Those who are part of the hearing process will upload documents provided by electors, so nothing is hidden. So, there is no need to present BLAs during the hearings," the official stated, emphasizing transparency.
Scale and Structure of the Revision Process
The mammoth exercise targets two primary groups. The first phase focuses on the 32 lakh 'unmapped' voters—individuals whose names, or whose parents' names, were absent from the 2002 SIR list. The second phase will address cases flagged for logical discrepancies, such as mismatches in data or inconsistencies on voter enumeration forms.
To manage this, 11 hearing tables have been set up in each of the state's 294 Assembly constituencies, totaling 3,234 tables across West Bengal. Each table comprises an ERO or Assistant ERO, a micro-observer, a BLO, and a supervisor. Officials have indicated readiness to increase the number of tables if required.
All hearings are being conducted on government premises like Block Development Offices and government schools, starting at 10 or 11 AM daily. Around 4,000 micro-observers, who are Group 'B' central government employees, have been enlisted to scrutinize forms and entries to eliminate errors.
Procedure for Voters and Special Provisions
Voters who have been issued notices must appear before these panels with necessary documents for verification. West Bengal Chief Election Officer Manoj Agarwal has warned that notices will be issued to those who do not comply. However, voters who fail to attend will be given another hearing opportunity before any decision to delete their names is finalized.
The process includes sympathetic considerations for specific cases. Teams will conduct home visits for electors aged over 85, and cases involving ill voters will be treated with special consideration. Officials expect cases with minor discrepancies, like spelling errors or age mismatches, to be disposed of quickly after document verification.
Following the completion of the hearings, all updated data will be uploaded to the designated application, finalizing the revised electoral roll for the state.
