The Election Commission faces mounting criticism in Kolkata. Its failure to establish a clear Standard Operating Procedure for handling 94.5 lakh logical discrepancies is causing widespread distress. Voters endure unnecessary harassment. Officers and observers appointed by the Commission express deep frustration as they conduct Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls hearings.
Voters Dragged to Hearings for Minor Mistakes
Officers speaking anonymously reveal a troubling pattern. Voters receive summons for physical SIR hearings even when they make only minor errors. One officer highlighted a stark contrast with Bihar. There, Booth Level Officers could accept documents during enumeration. This practice significantly reduced the number of people called for hearings.
In West Bengal, however, the Election Commission did not grant BLOs this authority. The officer stated this decision directly harasses voters. Their resulting anger often gets directed at the officers themselves, creating a hostile environment.
Illogical Document Rejections Questioned
Another officer raised serious questions about the rationale behind rejecting certain documents. The Election Commission refuses to accept the Madhyamik examination admit card as proof of birth. Yet, it accepts the Madhyamik pass certificate.
This inconsistency baffles officials. The officer reasoned that the admit card contains all necessary details. It shows the candidate's name, date of birth, and father's name. Logically, it should serve as valid proof. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bengal advocated for its acceptance. His plea was rejected by the Commission.
This rejection sends a clear message. The Election Commission is not listening to its own top officer in the state. The decision appears illogical and arbitrary to those on the ground.
AI-Generated Discrepancies Cause Unnecessary Trouble
Officers point out that many discrepancies arise from minor AI-generated errors. Voters are not at fault for most of these issues. Despite this, they face harassment that could easily be avoided.
An observer shared a telling example. A former Election Commission official who worked in Bengal listed his surname as Roychoudhury. His official documents show Roy and Choudhury as separate words. He still received a hearing notice. This case underscores the system's rigidity.
Pointless Hearings Waste Time and Resources
The observer described another complaint from Behala West. Draupadi Giri, a voter, received a SIR hearing notice. She was asked to clarify a minor discrepancy. Her EPIC card listed her father's name as Nanda Nayek. The SIR 2002 record showed it as Nandalal Nayek.
The officer handling the case saw no point in dragging her to a hearing. Such minor mismatches in names, ages, addresses, or family details now routinely trigger hearings. This policy is creating administrative chaos and public anger.
Systemic Issues Amplify the Problem
An officer explained further complications. Many voters listed in the SIR 2002 face trouble if Booth Level Officers cannot match their names. Several assembly constituencies changed after the 2006 delimitation. This adds another layer of confusion.
People from outside Bengal also receive notices. BLOs lack access to data from other states where SIR occurred in 2003. This data disparity raises serious questions about the Election Commission's internal coordination and planning.
BLOs Seek Empowerment, Face Bureaucratic Hurdles
Swapan Mondal, secretary of the BLO Aikya Manch, outlined their efforts. The group submitted a memorandum to Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal. They requested a waiver for voters with minor discrepancies. BLOs could easily correct these errors themselves.
Instead of granting this waiver, the system issues hearing notices. Mondal noted the illogical nature of summoning voters even after they submit documents. He emphasized that BLOs using the BLO App can see the logical discrepancies clearly. They possess the visibility to rectify problems but lack the official empowerment to act.
The current process frustrates everyone involved. It burdens voters, overwhelms officers, and highlights a critical need for procedural reform. The absence of a sensible Standard Operating Procedure remains at the heart of this escalating issue in Kolkata.
