ECI
NEW DELHI: Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s direction dated January 19, the EC on Wednesday instructed the West Bengal chief electoral officer (CEO) to ensure that the names of electors listed under ‘logical discrepancies’ and ‘unmapped’ categories, are displayed by January 24 at the gram panchayat bhawans, public places in every taluka, the block office of every taluka (sub-division) as well as in the ward offices of urban centres. The persons in these two categories may submit their documents/objections through their authorised representative, who can even be a booth level agent (BLA). However, there shall be a signed/thumb-marked authority letter, by the person, in favour of such representative.The EC on Wednesday simultaneously wrote to the West Bengal chief secretary and DGP asking them to provide adequate manpower to the state CEO for deployment at panchayat bhawans/block offices and other such places of hearing “to handle submission ofdocuments/objections/hearing related to the ongoing SIR, 2026 in West Bengal”.”Chief election commissioner assures all residents of West Bengal that no one will be allowed to take law in their hands and strict action will be taken against those who do,” a senior EC officer told TOI on Wednesday.EC on Wednesday directed the state DGP, Kolkata commissioner of police, district collectors and superintendents of police to make sure there are no law and order problems at the panchayat bhawans or block/ward officers and the SIR related activities proceed smoothly. It warned of strict action in event of disturbance to SIR proceedings due to acts of omission or commission by the concerned authorities.As per EC’s separate instructions, the CEO shall designate a gram panchayat bhawan or block office or ward office for each part of electoral roll, preferably within or near the polling station area, for submitting of documents and hearing. Further, upto 10 days from displaying the names of the persons in the panchayat bhawans/block offices/ward offices, all such persons who have not yet submitted their claims, documents, or objections, are allowed to do so within the extended period.All affected persons shall also be heard by electoral registration officer (ERO) or assistant ERO either in person or through the authorised representative accompanying them, for the purpose of making an appropriate decision.The official who will receive the documents or accord hearing to the affected persons, shall also certify the receipt of documents and the conduct of such hearing. These certificates as well as the authority letter shall be uploaded by the BLO in the BLO app. EC further said the madhyamik admit card (Class 10), which mentions date of birth of the candidate, may be submitted apart from madhyamik pass certificate during the hearing.
