Howrah Voter List Errors: Deceased Elderly Man's Name Remains, Son's Deleted
In a shocking case of electoral irregularities in Howrah, West Bengal, the name of an elderly man who died after receiving a Summary Inquiry Report (SIR) hearing summons has appeared on the final voter list, while his son's name was deleted. Another similar victim's name was placed under adjudication, though his sons' names were also removed from the list, sparking outrage and raising serious questions about the accuracy of the voter registration process.
Details of the Cases
The first case involves Sk Jamat Ali, a 64-year-old resident of Brammannyagram under the Amta constituency. Ali received an SIR hearing notice and, according to his son Sk Kamal, fell ill with anxiety. His hearing was scheduled for December 29 last year, but he died of cardiac arrest on the morning of December 25. Despite this, Ali's name remains on the final voter list, while Kamal's name is listed under 'adjudication'. Kamal has lodged a police complaint naming Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, expressing confusion over the situation.
The second case concerns Madan Ghosh, a 62-year-old resident of Liluah Chakpara under the Domjur constituency. Ghosh received an SIR hearing notice and attended a hearing at the Bali-Jagachha BDO office on January 9, accompanied by his younger son Susanta. During the hearing, Ghosh was subjected to prolonged questioning and was repeatedly told to produce his birth certificate or face deletion of his name. He began sweating and, after Susanta left to fetch documents, Ghosh collapsed on his way to a photocopy shop. He was taken to Howrah District Hospital, where he was declared dead due to a cerebral attack caused by extreme panic. On the final voter list, Ghosh's name is under adjudication, while his sons Susanta and Dipankar's names have been deleted.
Official Responses and Allegations
Howrah Trinamool chairman and minister Arup Roy stated, "Such errors and irregularities won't be tolerated." When questioned, Howrah District Magistrate and district returning officer P Dipappriya said, "I will be able to respond only after properly looking into it." An election official claimed that those whose names have been dropped can apply for inclusion in the next revised list with appropriate documents, and errors for deceased individuals will be corrected once alerted. The official suggested that such errors could result from mechanical glitches or lapses on the voters' part.
However, Susanta and Kamal alleged that their fathers' deaths were not even reported to the respective BDO offices, indicating a breakdown in communication. Trinamool functionary Masood Guddu Khan announced that he would submit complaint letters, along with the deceased men's sons, to the BDOs of the two assembly constituencies and provide legal assistance. Khan noted, "These two families are known as Trinamool supporters. We received complaints about irregularities being committed against several of our supporters."
Broader Implications
This incident highlights potential flaws in the voter list preparation process, particularly concerning SIR hearings and the handling of deceased individuals' records. The emotional and physical toll on the elderly victims, who faced extreme stress leading to fatal health episodes, underscores the need for more sensitive and efficient administrative procedures. As the election season approaches, such errors could undermine public trust in the electoral system and necessitate urgent corrective measures by the Election Commission.
