West Bengal CEO Issues Strict Directive for Daily SIR Hearing Data Upload on EC Portal
In a significant move to streamline electoral processes, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal has issued a firm directive to all District Electoral Officers (DEOs) regarding the timely submission of Summary Revision (SIR) hearing data. The order mandates that all hearing data must be uploaded on the Election Commission (EC) portal on the same day the hearings are conducted, with a strict deadline to clear any backlog by January 26.
Immediate Upload Requirements and Portal Specifications
The CEO's instructions specify that DEOs are required to enter all SIR hearing information directly into the 'Hearing held' column of the official EC portal without delay. This requirement applies particularly to documents concerning voters in the unmapped and logical discrepancies categories, which must be uploaded daily on the day of their respective hearings.
"The documents of the voters unmapped and logical discrepancies categories are to be uploaded on a daily basis on the day of hearing and the backlog, if any, should be cleared within Jan 26," emphasized CEO Manoj Agarwal in his official communication.
Addressing Record Update Delays and Ensuring Compliance
This directive follows Agarwal's earlier communication to District Magistrates and DEOs on Thursday, where he highlighted concerns about pending record updates. The CEO noted that many Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) had been failing to update records promptly, creating confusion about actual hearing numbers and compromising electoral accuracy.
The order establishes clear protocols for document verification and submission:
- DEOs must verify documents promptly with issuing authorities
- EROs and AEROs must issue disposal orders immediately upon receiving verified documents from DEOs
- Daily submission of reports is mandatory for all officials involved
The order explicitly warns that failure to comply with these requirements will result in strict disciplinary action against responsible officials.
Enhanced Verification Mechanisms and Observational Oversight
To ensure the integrity of uploaded data, Agarwal revealed that micro observers and special roll observers are now actively verifying documents uploaded by officials following hearings. This additional layer of scrutiny aims to maintain data accuracy and prevent discrepancies in the electoral roll preparation process.
The January 26 deadline holds particular significance as no hearings are scheduled for that day, providing officials with dedicated time to address any accumulated backlog and ensure all records are current and accurately reflected in the EC portal system.
