Election Commission's Super-Check Reveals 27 Lakh Voter Anomalies in Kolkata
In a significant development, the Election Commission's super-checks of Special Summary Revision (SIR) applications by micro-observers have uncovered anomalies affecting a staggering 27 lakh voters in Kolkata. A senior EC official confirmed on Wednesday that all these cases have been flagged for review, with documents forwarded to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) for thorough reverification.
Discrepancies Flagged as "To Be Reviewed"
Micro-observers, during their intensive super-checking process, identified numerous discrepancies that led them to mark these cases as "to be reviewed". The official explained that these anomalies were detected while examining the digital trail of electors' documents, highlighting systemic issues in the verification process.
Specific Cases Highlight Verification Failures
Several specific instances illustrate the nature of these discrepancies:
- In Panskura West assembly constituency, voter Sheikh Rajesh Ali was recorded as the son of Bhubanchindra Bera despite no proof of linkage being uploaded. The AERO had inexplicably marked this as an "OK" case, raising questions about the basis for such approval.
- Another elector from Mograhat, Hafizur Rahaman Halder, submitted a birth certificate showing his birth date as October 30, 1990, while the handwritten registration date on the same certificate was August 23, 1990—a clear chronological inconsistency.
EC Sets February 21 Deadline for Case Disposal
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has issued written instructions to all District Election Officers (DEOs) to dispose of all pending SIR cases by February 21. This directive came after the EC noticed that a substantial number of cases remained unresolved, prompting calls for accelerated processing to meet the stipulated deadline.
The official stated, "The EC sent written instructions to work at a faster pace in disposing of all SIR cases within the stipulated deadline, February 21. The instruction was sent to all DEOs as well as to the CEO's office."
Micro-Observers Flag Previously Disposed Cases
Interestingly, micro-observers have flagged numerous cases that had already been disposed of by EROs/AEROs as "to be reviewed". The official revealed, "During the checking exercise, the micro-observers found discrepancies in about 27 lakh cases. Even the EROs/AEROs concerned disposed of several cases as ‘OK'. Now, all cases will be reviewed again by the EROs/AEROs and finally disposed of."
According to sources, the average number of such problematic cases ranges between 8,000 to 9,000 per assembly constituency, indicating widespread verification issues across the region.
Disciplinary Action Against Micro-Observers
In a related development, the Election Commission has showcaused four micro-observers for alleged dereliction of duties. This action underscores the EC's commitment to maintaining rigorous standards in the electoral verification process, even as it addresses the massive backlog of anomalous cases.
The comprehensive super-check initiative represents a crucial step toward ensuring electoral integrity in Kolkata, with the February 21 deadline now looming as a critical milestone for resolving these 27 lakh voter anomalies.
