Kolkata Woman Passes Away Just Before EC Declares Her Voter Status Valid
In a poignant twist of fate, seventy-seven-year-old Mina Jalal from Kolkata never learned during her lifetime that she had been officially recognized as a qualified voter. The resident of the Chowringhee Assembly constituency passed away on March 27, merely days before the Election Commission included her name in the final voter list published on April 9.
Family Members Face Adjudication Process
While Mina Jalal ultimately qualified, her husband, eighty-one-year-old Jalaluddin Ahmed Siddique, and their son, Imran Zaki, did not pass the adjudication process. Both have now approached the tribunal seeking resolution. However, three of her other sons and her daughter successfully qualified as voters after submitting enumeration forms.
"She was sick as she was diabetic and was surely under mental stress knowing she could not vote in the assembly poll," said Imran Zaki, a social entrepreneur and educationist. "When her name was cleared by the EC, she was no more—it is an irony of fate. She always wanted to be a voter, having voted in all past polls."
Allegations of Harassment and Lack of Transparency
Zaki detailed that his father, a former honorary general secretary of the Mohammedan Sporting Club in 1989, is deeply tense over their failure in adjudication. The family, residing on Weston Street in Bowbazar for over seven decades, claims persistent harassment despite providing all necessary documents.
"We have all our names in the SIR 2002 and still, after sharing all data and documents, we are constantly being harassed," Zaki asserted. "They are not giving any reason why our names were deleted. There should be transparency on the part of the EC. They are playing hide-and-seek with a mala fide intent."
He emphasized their long-standing roots in the city, noting their grandfather served with the British Police and they continue to live in the same building. "My father is very worried as he fears he cannot cast his vote this time, affecting the basic tenets of democratic rights," Zaki added.
Documents Submitted and Claims of Deliberate Targeting
Zaki recounted submitting extensive documentation, including:
- Passport
- Voter card
- Ration card
- Driving licence
- Class X and XII pass certificates
- Graduation certificate copies
He labeled the situation a "deliberate attempt to harass and heckle people who are genuine citizens of the country." Ironically, Zaki previously hosted former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi for a voters' awareness program, highlighting the paradox of his and his father's names being deleted.
Other Family Members Qualify, Hope for Justice
Zaki's brothers—Arshad Jamal, Naiyer Iqbal, Asif Iqbal—and sister Firdous Misbah qualified as voters without facing adjudication, having submitted enumeration forms. Zaki expressed optimism about the tribunal, stating, "While heading for the tribunal, I am very optimistic that we will get justice as retired judges are pragmatic. This is mockery of the democratic system. We hope we will be enrolled soon."
The case underscores ongoing concerns about voter registration processes and transparency within election systems, particularly for long-term residents facing unexpected hurdles in exercising their democratic rights.
