Kolkata Voters Face Confusion in Rush to Restore Deleted Electoral Roll Names
On Thursday, numerous citizens in Kolkata whose names had been deleted from the electoral roll found themselves running from pillar to post in a frantic effort to file appeals before the tribunal for the restoration of their voting rights. Due to a lack of proper guidelines regarding the process, residents encountered several hurdles just to get their appeals uploaded, with the initial challenge being to locate the correct government office.
Chaos at Government Offices as Voters Seek Clarity
The scramble began in the afternoon at the District Magistrate's office and other government buildings where State Information Register-related works are conducted. Most people arrived seeking clarity on how to file their appeals effectively. Earlier, Election Commission officials had stated that deleted voters could either file appeals online through the ECI NET platform or get assistance from officials at the DM, SDM, or SDO offices for uploading. However, it was observed that some individuals, unable to file their appeals online, visited several government buildings before finally identifying the right one housing the specified office.
Personal Struggles Highlight Systemic Issues
Senior citizen Rabindra Kumar Jha, a deleted voter from Shyampukur, was spotted at Jessop Building. He shared his experience, saying, "During the hearing, the Booth Level Officer came with me. But this time, the BLO told me that I would have to do the needful by myself. I went to the local Kolkata Municipal Corporation ward office to find out where I need to go to file the appeal. After visiting some government buildings, I came to Jessop Building to see if officials are helping people in making appeals for the tribunal."
Like Jha, many other deleted voters arrived at Survey Building in Alipore with their documents to file appeals. Not all were as fortunate as Suraj Singh, who came prepared with an appeal drafted under the guidance of a lawyer. Singh, a resident of Deshpran Sashmal Road, explained, "The officials checked the appeal and a set of documents I brought with me. They digitised and uploaded my appeal for the tribunal. My neighbour also came with me, but he could not do it as he did not have the application."
Confusion Over Requirements and Deadlines
In line with the Election Commission's previous declaration that no lawyer or supporting documents would be required to petition the tribunal, most people came empty-handed or with only the list of deleted voters in their respective part numbers. Aman Shaw, a deleted voter from Rashbehari, expressed his concerns, stating, "The officials told me to bring a written prayer tomorrow, and then they will upload it for the tribunal. My name was deleted from the supplementary list published on March 27, and it was clearly mentioned that the appeal will have to be made within 15 days. I will spend anxious moments until I get to file the appeal."
This situation underscores the widespread confusion and administrative challenges faced by voters in Kolkata, highlighting the need for clearer communication and streamlined processes to ensure that citizens can exercise their fundamental right to vote without unnecessary obstacles.
