Deletions by the Special Investigation Report (SIR) have not only stripped 27 lakh individuals of their voting rights but have also plunged many government employees into a state of panic. An assistant teacher, a Maharatna undertaking AGM, a medical professional, and an insurance agent have approached the Calcutta High Court, fearing termination from service as SIR deletions cast doubt on their citizenship status.
Case of a Maharatna PSU Employee
A 40-year-old resident of the Bhagwangola Assembly constituency has dedicated over a decade to a Maharatna public sector undertaking under the Government of India. Currently holding a top position, he takes pride in being a central government employee. Despite his name appearing in the 2025 electoral roll and the draft roll published on December 16, 2025, he was summoned for a hearing to resolve a clerical discrepancy in his father's name in 2002 records. Even after producing 11 documents, his name was deleted. He appealed before the tribunal but received no relief.
His petition stated: "The sudden removal of his name from the official records creates a cloud of suspicion regarding his citizenship, which may lead to adverse departmental consequences, jeopardising his service benefits, or even act as a bar to his continued employment. Such an anomaly casts a shadow on his record and professional integrity." As a last resort, he moved the Calcutta High Court seeking an order for the tribunal to hear his case urgently, but the matter remained unheard. Justice Krishna Rao informed his lawyer that it would be heard after the elections.
Assistant Teacher Seeks Relief
An assistant teacher in a government school also approached the High Court seeking similar relief. A voter card is not just an identity; it grants a person the constitutional right to vote. "SIR had taken a lot from these people, their right to vote being a crucial loss. Now these people are worried about their job and whether this deletion will complicate things in their government service," a lawyer told Justice Krishna Rao on April 28, seeking an urgent hearing.
Insurance Agent Fears Licence Cancellation
A 52-year-old insurance agent from Nadia's Tehatta is concerned that deletion from the electoral roll could lead to cancellation of his licence. His name featured in the 2002 list. He also approached the Calcutta High Court seeking an order for the tribunal to hear his appeal against SIR cancellation urgently. His petition read: "He is a dedicated insurance agent entrusted with the responsibility of soliciting and managing financial portfolios for a diverse clientele. His position is not merely a source of livelihood but a position of public trust. The arbitrary deletion of his name from the electoral roll directly threatens the validity of his insurance licence and agency appointment."
Medical Professional's Career at Stake
For a 32-year-old medical professional, restoring his voting rights is not only about electing a government but also about proving he is a 'bona fide citizen', a prerequisite to appear for the Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test, conducted twice yearly by AIIMS New Delhi. The test is scheduled for May 16, 2026. A voter from the Kaliganj Assembly constituency, his house staffship was at Sambhunath Pandit Hospital and Chittaranjan Seva Sadan. Although his parents and three brothers passed the SIR test, he failed. He sought judicial intervention "not only to restore his right to vote but also to secure his lawful participation in the upcoming examination and protect his career."
