Kolkata Electors Scramble to Attend SIR Hearings as Deadline Approaches
In Kolkata, a significant number of electors who previously missed their scheduled Summary Revision (SIR) hearings due to various personal and professional commitments are now urgently queuing up at their designated centres this week. Their primary objective is to protect their names from being struck off the final electoral list, as the deadline for resolving discrepancies looms large.
Personal Hardships and Hearing Postponements
Many voters had initially submitted their documents to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and were informed that they would receive a respite from what they described as "hearing harassment." However, they are now being called to appear in person to address issues flagged by the Election Commission (EC). For instance, Chetla resident Saheli Ghosh, a private bank employee, was out of the city attending the funeral of a close relative in Jamshedpur when her hearing was originally scheduled.
"When the BLO called me last month to hand over the hearing notice, I was in Jamshedpur. The hearing was set just four days later. After consulting with the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), the BLO assured me that my hearing would be deferred. Finally, I received the call to appear with my documents this week," Ghosh explained, highlighting the challenges faced by voters with unavoidable engagements.
Addressing Logical Discrepancies in Electoral Data
Another common issue involves logical discrepancies, often arising from mapping errors or documentation mismatches. Rony Das, a resident of Sahapur in Behala, found himself in this category due to a mapping issue related to his father. Despite proactively submitting copies of his passport, his deceased father's passport, and the death certificate to prove their relationship, Das was still summoned for a hearing.
"I was still called. During the hearing, I submitted my passport, my father's passport, and his death certificate. They didn't ask me any questions—they just took my documents, photographed me, and let me go," Das recounted, underscoring the procedural nature of these hearings even when documentation seems sufficient.
BLOs Report Completion of Pending Hearings
Booth Level Officers across Kolkata have confirmed that with the deadline for generating hearing notices now over, they are focusing on completing pending hearings for logical discrepancies. A BLO from Beliaghata stated, "All hearings in my area are done, except for five electors who could not appear on their respective days. The AERO is currently conducting their hearings at Gurudas College."
Similarly, a BLO from Haltu added, "Four electors in my part could not attend their hearings last month as they were travelling for official work and requested postponements. The AERO instructed me to summon them for hearings this week. All these voters have issues related to logical discrepancies."
Persistent Calls for Hearings Despite Document Submission
BLOs have also acknowledged that in numerous cases, electors were called for personal hearings even after all relevant documents had been submitted to address logical discrepancies. A BLO from the Behala West constituency revealed, "A total of 146 people were named for logical discrepancies in my part. I submitted relevant documents for all of them, but 76 were still called for personal hearings. They ended up submitting the same set of documents again during the hearings."
This situation has led to frustration among voters, who feel that the process is redundant and time-consuming. The ongoing efforts aim to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the electoral roll, but they also highlight the administrative challenges in managing large-scale revisions in a bustling metropolis like Kolkata.
As the week progresses, electors continue to flock to centres, hoping to secure their voting rights and avoid last-minute exclusions from the final list. The Election Commission's drive to clean up the electoral database remains a critical, albeit demanding, task for all stakeholders involved.
