Missionaries of Charity Nuns Face Voter List Deletions in Kolkata
In a significant development affecting religious communities in West Bengal, around 35 nuns belonging to the Missionaries of Charity (MoC) have discovered their names have been struck off the voter list following rigorous judicial scrutiny. The MoC, an order founded by the revered Mother Teresa and headquartered in Kolkata, has formally written to the Election Commission of India to address this issue, while the affected nuns are initiating tribunal proceedings to contest these deletions.
Details of the Deletions and Electoral Process
The adjudication deleted list number 5 for the Chowringhee assembly constituency, specifically covering ward 62 with part numbers 210 and 211, has been published by the Election Commission. This list reveals that at least 35 sisters from the Missionaries of Charity have been removed from the electoral roll. The age range of these nuns is broad, including elderly sisters aged 70 to 80 years, many between 50 and 69 years, and several in their 30s and 40s. These nuns had provided either the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity or Nirmala Shishu Bhavan as their permanent residential addresses.
According to local sources, over 120 sisters from the Missionaries of Charity were initially called for hearings as per Election Commission guidelines. This was because they were not mapped to the last Summary Revision of electoral rolls from any state or union territory, including West Bengal's 2002 SIR roll, and could not demonstrate sufficient linkages to prove their eligibility.
Reasons Behind the Deletions and Nuns' Responses
An Election Commission source explained that individuals born before 1987 were required to produce one personal document from a list of 12 specified documents, while those born after 1987 needed to provide a self-document along with a document from either their father or mother from the ECI-listed options. During the hearings, the nuns attempted to submit various documents such as passports, PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, and certificates from the church. However, many struggled to provide parental documents or birth certificates, which made it challenging to establish the necessary linkages for voter registration.
In response to the deletions, the Missionaries of Charity has taken proactive steps. A sister from the order stated, "Many sisters have been deleted from the voter roll despite attending hearings and submitting relevant documents. We have written to the ECI officials in Delhi and are awaiting their reply. Meanwhile, many sisters are going to Sealdah court for further processes." The deleted nuns are also filling out Form 6 to apply for reinstatement as new voters, with indications that more sisters might be affected in the future.
Unique Aspects of the Case and Political Reactions
The deleted list number 5 highlights some unusual entries that have contributed to the scrutiny. Many sisters had listed their father's name in the SIR enumeration forms, but at least a dozen named Mother Teresa as their mother or parent. Additionally, one sister had listed Sister Nirmala, Mother Teresa's immediate successor, as a parent. A sister from the congregation clarified this practice, saying, "We are religious sisters belonging to a congregation. We consider Mother Teresa and Sister Nirmala as our spiritual mothers, so many of the sisters named them as mothers or parents."
Despite these deletions, several Missionaries of Charity nuns have been cleared as Chowringhee voters in the SIR process. Those who were cleared had provided the Mother House or Nirmala Shishu Bhavan as their permanent address. In the final electoral roll published on February 28, names of many sisters were confirmed as Chowringhee voters, while others remained under adjudication.
The situation has drawn attention from local political figures. Sitting MLA and Trinamool Congress candidate from Chowringhee, Nayna Bandyopadhyay, commented on the matter, stating, "It is unfortunate that names of MoC sisters have been removed." This statement underscores the broader implications of the voter list deletions within the political landscape of Kolkata.
As the Missionaries of Charity continues to navigate this electoral challenge, the case raises important questions about voter registration processes for religious communities and the documentation requirements set by the Election Commission. The outcome of the tribunal appeals and the response from ECI officials will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
