Three Siblings, All Government Doctors, Fight to Get Names Back on Voter List
For three siblings, all of whom are working as government medical officers, Thursday was an exceptionally hectic and frustrating day. They were busy filing online appeals to the tribunal to have their names enrolled in the electoral rolls after discovering they had been deleted during the SIR adjudication process.
Family's Electoral Roll Discrepancy Sparks Confusion
The family, residing in the Ranitala PS area of the Bhagabangola Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, remains hopeful that the tribunal will deliver justice. Interestingly, while the siblings' names were removed, their mother's name was included through the exact same SIR adjudication process, creating a puzzling situation for the entire household.
Nabin Chowdhury, currently posted at the ICU of Chanchal Superspeciality Hospital in Malda, expressed deep disappointment upon discovering that his name, along with the names of his two sisters—Aleya Sultana and Tania Sultana—had been deleted from the voter list. He took to social media to voice his frustration, noting that although he has never failed an academic exam in his life, he has now failed to prove he is a genuine voter.
"For the first time in my life, I am failing these Election Commission of India processes, and we have even been unable to clear the supplementary stages," Chowdhury remarked with evident frustration.
Document Submission Challenges and Family Background
Chowdhury elaborated on the family's situation: "My mother, Nur Sheda Khatun, a health department staff member, is certainly lucky to have her name on the rolls. Her name was included in the electoral roll through the same process by which ours were deleted. I do not understand the logic behind our exclusion."
All three siblings are now attempting to submit their mother's electoral roll data as supporting evidence. However, they have encountered technical difficulties with the online submission process, which does not provide a way to upload the necessary documents. As a result, they plan to send hard copies to the District Magistrate's office as well.
The 30-year-old Chowdhury provided details about his sisters' professional backgrounds: "My elder sister, Aleya, was earlier the block medical officer of health (BMOH) in North Dinajpur. After completing her Master's in gynaecology, she is now posted at Swasthya Bhavan. My other sister, Tania, is working as a medical officer for the Delhi government."
He added with bewilderment: "The names of all three of us were deleted from the supplementary SIR list. Does this mean we are all foreigners?"
Extensive Documentation Submitted to Prove Identity
To support the inclusion of his own name, Chowdhury has already submitted multiple documents including his birth certificate, his class X and XII pass certificates, his state medical council registration certificate, his ID card, and his father's passport. Since these documents did not suffice to prove his voter eligibility, he now plans to submit his government service ID card as additional evidence.
Chowdhury mentioned that his father, Md Ali Hossain, was a teacher, further establishing the family's long-standing roots in the community.
Faith in Judiciary and Hope for Resolution
The siblings maintain full faith in the judiciary despite their current predicament. They cannot fathom why they were excluded from the voter list when they have lived in the area their entire lives and serve as government medical professionals. They have filed their appeals with the optimistic belief that they will eventually be reinstated on the voters' list.
The case highlights the challenges citizens sometimes face with electoral roll verification processes, even when they are educated professionals serving in government positions. The family's experience underscores the importance of transparent and consistent adjudication procedures during voter list revisions.
