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Bengal Polls: Judicial Officers Seek Special Security in Border Districts

Judicial officers conducting voter document adjudication in four Bengal border districts have requested special security following security breaches. The Election Commission has directed state police to ensure their safety as they process approximately 50 lakh documents flagged for "logical discrepancies." The Calcutta High Court is actively monitoring the adjudication process mandated by the Supreme Court. Officials are concerned about completing the massive adjudication before the February 28 deadline for the final electoral roll.

Key Points: Bengal Judicial Officers Seek Security for Voter Adjudication

  • Security sought in 4 border districts
  • 50 lakh documents under discrepancy
  • Adjudication process monitored by High Court
  • Final electoral roll due Feb 28
2 min read

Bengal SIR: Judicial officers seek special security in four border districts

Judicial officers in Bengal's border districts seek special security during voter document adjudication ahead of the final electoral roll publication.

"The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken note of the apprehension of these judicial officers - CEO's Office Insider"

Kolkata, Feb 24

As the process of judicial adjudication of voters' documents identified under the "logical discrepancy" category in poll-bound West Bengal got underway, the judicial officers appointed in four districts located near the India-Bangladesh border have sought special security after experiencing security breaches.

The process of judicial adjudication started on Monday as directed by the Supreme Court last week.

These four districts are Malda, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas, with all of them having international borders with Bangladesh, and South 24 Parganas having mostly a coastal border.

Insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken note of the apprehension of these judicial officers and has directed the state police administration to ensure blanket security for them.

Meanwhile, of the 50 lakh voters' documents identified under the "logical discrepancy" category that have been referred for judicial adjudication, the maximum are in Murshidabad district. However, the exact figure is yet to be disclosed by the Commission.

The judicial officers appointed for the voters' documents adjudication process have been briefed to state the reason for "acceptance" or "rejection" of the documents in each case that has been referred to them for adjudication, a CEO's office insider confirmed.

At the same time, the judicial officers will also submit daily progress reports to the Calcutta High Court on the status of the adjudication process.

According to the current schedule, the final electoral roll in West Bengal is slated to be published on February 28, excluding cases referred for judicial adjudication.

Supplementary electoral rolls will be published after the adjudication process is completed, incorporating eligible voters cleared through judicial verification.

Officials indicated that a key concern remains whether adjudication of a large number of voters' documents -- estimated at around 50 lakh referred under the "logical discrepancy" category -- can be completed before the February 28 deadline.

Following the Supreme Court's directive last week mandating judicial oversight in adjudicating voters' identity documents flagged for discrepancies, the Calcutta High Court has been actively monitoring the process.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
50 lakh documents with discrepancies in just one state? That's a staggering number. While the judicial process is necessary, it highlights a massive failure in the initial enrollment and verification process. This needs systemic reform, not just last-minute adjudication.
R
Rahul R
Border areas always have these complexities. Security concerns are genuine. Hope the state police provides adequate protection so these officers can work without fear. A clean electoral roll is crucial for free and fair elections in Bengal.
A
Aman W
The Feb 28 deadline seems impossible with so many cases. Rushing this process could lead to errors. Maybe they should consider extending the deadline to ensure proper verification? Better to have a correct roll late than a flawed one on time.
M
Michael C
Following this from abroad. It's encouraging to see the Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court taking such active steps to ensure electoral integrity. The daily reporting to the High Court is a good transparency measure. Hope the security situation is resolved swiftly.
N
Nisha Z
Murshidabad having the maximum discrepancies is not surprising given its location. The focus should be on ensuring every genuine Indian citizen gets to vote, and no illegal entries are allowed. The judicial officers have a tough job. Salute to them! 🇮🇳

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