Confusion Over Micro-Observers Persists in West Bengal
The confusion surrounding the appointment of micro-observers for elections in West Bengal continued on Tuesday, with the state's Chief Electoral Officer's office claiming it had not received any formal list of 8,505 Group-B officers from the state government. This development comes despite a clear directive from the Supreme Court issued just a day earlier.
Supreme Court Order and Election Commission's Position
The Supreme Court, in its order on Monday, explicitly stated, "Let the State Government ensure that all 8,505 Group B officers/officials, whose list was handed over to the Court today, report to the District Electoral Officers/EROs by 5 pm tomorrow." The court further added that the Election Commission of India, after briefly scrutinizing their bio-data or work experience, may shortlist these officers to a number equivalent to the strength of micro-observers already engaged.
However, when asked how many officers reported on Tuesday, a senior EC official revealed a significant gap in communication. "The Bengal CEO office did not receive any formal list," the official stated. "An officer at the office got a list with 8,505 names on WhatsApp. Unless we get the formal list, how could we issue appointment letters?"
Missing Details and Delayed Response
The CEO had written to the chief secretary on Monday, seeking comprehensive details of the officers. This included their name, designation, gender, date of birth, mobile number, email, residential address with assembly constituency, and status of vigilance clearance. The chief secretary was instructed to send these details by 3 pm on Tuesday.
"However, no report came till 5 pm," the official confirmed. "We hope to get details by Wednesday." This delay has created operational hurdles for the Election Commission in finalizing the micro-observer appointments, which are crucial for ensuring fair and transparent electoral processes.
Officers Report Despite Formal List Absence
Interestingly, despite the absence of a formal list, several state officials reported to the Kolkata South District Electoral Officer's office at Survey Building in Alipore on Tuesday. This indicates some level of awareness and compliance among the officers, even as the bureaucratic process faces delays.
Issues with the Submitted List
The state list of 8,505 Group-B officers and officials, which was reportedly shared informally, contained names of various personnel, including lower division clerks, upper division clerks, typists, and amins, among others. However, this list has raised concerns regarding classification accuracy.
"The list categorised all 8,505 under Group-B. But, lower division clerks are not Group-B officials," another official pointed out. "Typists, amins, and ICDS supervisors, too, do not come under Group-B." Specifically, the list included names of 110 lower division clerks from various government departments, who are classified as Group-C employees by the government itself. Additionally, it contained names of 1,172 upper division clerks, 1,466 clerks, 155 pharmacists, 30 amins, and 49 typists.
This misclassification could potentially complicate the shortlisting process by the Election Commission, as it needs to ensure that only eligible Group-B officers are considered for the micro-observer roles. The ongoing confusion highlights the challenges in coordinating between state and central election authorities, especially under tight deadlines set by judicial orders.
