Election Commission Intensifies Electoral Roll Scrutiny in Kolkata with Massive Hearings
The Election Commission of India has initiated a comprehensive review of electoral rolls in Kolkata, summoning approximately 30 lakh "unmapped" electors for hearings to verify their eligibility and address discrepancies. This significant move aims to ensure the integrity of the voter list ahead of upcoming elections.
1 Lakh Voters to Face SIR Queue Hearings
In addition to the unmapped voters, the poll panel has identified around 1 lakh electors who must prepare to stand in Special Revision (SIR) queues for hearings. These individuals are part of a broader effort to resolve "logical discrepancies" in the electoral data, which includes inconsistencies in addresses, duplicate entries, or other anomalies that could affect voting accuracy.
Form 7 Objections Under Review
The EC is also conducting hearings for cases involving objections raised through Form 7, which allows voters or political parties to request the exclusion of ineligible individuals from the electoral roll. This includes voters who have permanently shifted or are deceased. According to EC officials, no eligible voter can be excluded without a proper hearing, ensuring fairness in the process.
From December 17 to January 19, the commission received 41,961 Form 7 applications for excluding deceased or permanently shifted electors from the final roll. Prior to the draft SIR roll publication on December 16, an additional 56,867 Form 7s were submitted, totaling 98,828 cases that will be disposed of after hearings conducted by Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs).
Hearing Procedures and Stakeholder Involvement
The hearings involve multiple stakeholders to ensure transparency. Both the person who submitted the Form 7 objection and the voter against whom it is raised are called to appear. In cases involving deceased voters, family members may be summoned. Additionally, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) may be tasked with field visits to investigate and report on specific cases, adding a layer of verification to the process.
Political Party Submissions and EC Guidelines
Political parties have actively participated in this revision. The EC received a total of 604 Form 7 applications from parties, with the BJP submitting 591 requests for voter deletion and the Trinamool Congress submitting 13. The EC emphasizes that voters can submit Form 7 multiple times for others, and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are permitted to collect and submit up to 10 applications per day during the revision period, provided they act as electors in the constituency.
This extensive hearing process underscores the EC's commitment to maintaining an accurate and inclusive electoral roll, addressing concerns from all sides to uphold democratic principles in Kolkata's electoral landscape.
