West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, issued a stern warning on Friday, stating that individuals submitting bogus or fake documents to enroll as voters could face imprisonment for up to one year. This caution comes on the eve of the crucial SIR-2 hearing process for voters, which is scheduled to commence on Saturday and continue until February 7.
Strict Legal Action Against Fraudulent Enrolment
The warning specifically targets those attempting to manipulate the electoral process. Agarwal emphasized that foreigners who have illegally acquired Indian identity documents and managed to get their names enrolled in the electoral rolls would face severe criminal proceedings if their offences are detected during the SIR hearing. These individuals will also come under the scrutiny of the Union Home Ministry and multiple central agencies, which will initiate a thorough re-verification of their submitted documents.
In the Diamond Harbour block 2, the hearing process for over 200 voters has already begun a day earlier, on Friday itself. Authorities are urging all attendees to present only valid and genuine documents during their hearings.
Legal Provisions and Observer's Role
Citing the legal backbone for these actions, Subrata Gupta, the Election Commission's special roll observer, referred to Section 31 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act. He clarified that any person making false declarations during the preparation, revision, or correction of electoral rolls is liable for punishment. "Offenders face up to one-year imprisonment, a fine, or both for knowingly providing false information," Gupta stated. He further added that individuals could also face additional punishment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Another Election Commission official provided a way out for some. The official stated that individuals who lack proper documents but are listed as unmapped voters in the draft rolls should admit their mistakes during the hearing and withdraw their names. This step would allow them to escape criminal proceedings. However, if they fail to admit their mistakes and irregularities are later detected during document verification, they will face criminal charges.
Accountability and Vigilance Measures
The Commission has made it clear that accountability will not be limited to applicants alone. The concerned Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will also be held responsible for listing ineligible persons or foreigners in the electoral roll and will face appropriate action for lapses.
Furthermore, even individuals with seemingly genuine documents are not safe if there is concrete evidence against them. The official explained, "Even if their documents are genuine, if there are inputs from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) with specific proof that they manipulated documents and, being foreigners, obtained Indian identity documents, they will face criminal proceedings."
To ensure the integrity of the hearing process, the EC has deployed micro-observers to keep a close vigil. However, Booth Level Agents (BLAs) will not be permitted during these hearings. In preparation, the EC conducted training for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) on Friday and has instructed roll observers to visit various hearing venues to prevent any malpractice. These observers have been tasked with monitoring proceedings, recording any deviations from established norms, and reporting malpractices directly to the Election Commission.
