Kolkata Voters Encounter Obstacles in Filing Tribunal Appeals During Government Holiday
On Friday, numerous individuals in Kolkata rushed to government offices to submit their tribunal appeals in offline mode, only to be met with unexpected barriers. Officials informed them that it was a "government holiday" and that staff were "busy with other tasks pertaining to the upcoming assembly elections". This situation has sparked anxiety among voters who fear missing the critical deadline to file appeals for the consideration of the tribunal.
Supplementary Lists and Tight Deadlines Add to Voter Concerns
Since March 24, eight supplementary lists have been published, each specifying that excluded electors can file appeals before the tribunal within 15 days of the list's publication. Despite the availability of an online option through the ECI NET platform, a significant number of deleted voters across the city prefer the offline mode to personally reach out to tribunals with their requests.
Dharmendra Singh, a deleted voter from south Kolkata, expressed frustration: "I went to the Survey Building at Alipore today to file my appeal as directed by officials. But I was told first that the appeal work was unavailable due to the govt holiday. To my knowledge, EC work should continue even on holidays. When I mentioned this, the official reasoned they were occupied with other election-related duties and asked me to return on Saturday."
Voters Voice Fears Over Impending Deadlines
Similar to Singh, several other struck-off voters highlighted that nearly a week has passed since their names were deleted, leaving them with only one week to comply with the appeal process. Soma Das, another deleted elector, questioned: "Who will take responsibility if I miss the deadline to appeal before the tribunal, my last chance to regain my voting right?"
In north Kolkata, SIR victims who visited the Jessop Building on Friday reported comparable experiences. Kusum Dubey, a deleted voter, shared: "The building was open with some officials present, but they cited lack of time for offline appeal work. An official suggested I file online, as they were busy with other tasks. If I could do it online, I wouldn't have bothered visiting. However, they instructed me to come back on Monday."
Broader Implications for Electoral Participation
This incident raises serious questions about the accessibility and efficiency of the electoral appeal process during election periods. Voters are left in a precarious position, balancing the need to meet strict deadlines against administrative hurdles. The confusion over holiday protocols and election-related priorities underscores the challenges faced by citizens in exercising their fundamental voting rights.
As the assembly elections approach, ensuring that all eligible voters can participate without undue obstruction remains a critical concern for authorities and the public alike.
