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ECI Boosts Bengal Voter List Scrutiny with 2,000 Extra Micro-Observers

The Election Commission of India is appointing 2,000 additional micro-observers to supervise hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters' list in West Bengal. This brings the total to 6,500 such observers, who are central government staff, for a process unique to the state. The ECI has warned of strong disciplinary action against any micro-observer deviating from prescribed procedures. Separately, the state CEO's office plans legal action against individuals who publicly shared the mobile number of Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal on social media.

Key Points: ECI Appoints 2000 More Micro-Observers for Bengal Voter List

  • 2000 additional micro-observers appointed
  • To supervise voter list claim hearings
  • Exclusive system for West Bengal
  • ECI warns of action for SOP breaches
  • Legal action over CEO's leaked mobile number
2 min read

SIR in Bengal: ECI to appoint 2,000 additional micro-observers for hearing sessions

ECI adds 2000 micro-observers for Bengal's voter list hearings, warns of action for SOP deviations, and plans legal steps over CEO's leaked number.

"strong disciplinary action in case of any deliberate deviation from the ECI-prescribed standard operating procedure - Election Commission of India"

Kolkata, Jan 12

The Election Commission of India, on Monday, had decided to appoint 2,000 micro-observers supervising the hearing session on claims and objections regarding the draft voters' list in West Bengal.

These 2,000 micro-observers will be in addition to the 4,500 micro-observers already appointed by the Commission to supervise the hearing session.

Like the previous appointment, these 2,000 additional micro-observers will be appointed from among direct Central government staff or staff from central public sector undertaking or public sector banks, from the Group-B and Group A categories, an insider from the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) confirmed.

The concept of micro-observers is exclusive in the case of West Bengal, among the other states and Union Territories where parallel Special Intensive Revisions (SIRs) are being conducted.

The decision to appoint 2,000 additional micro-observers is being taken considering the huge numbers of voters being issued notices for hearing under the two categories of "unmapped" and "logical discrepancy" cases.

Recently, the ECI has cautioned the micro-observers in West Bengal of strong disciplinary action in case of any deliberate deviation from the ECI-prescribed standard operating procedure (SOP) for them.

Last week, the ECI announced appointments of four additional special roll observers for the state, and one of the two main assignments for them is to review the performance of the micro-observers at the hearing sessions.

Meanwhile, the CEO's office also told on Monday that appropriate legal actions would be initiated against certain individuals who have made the mobile number of West Bengal CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal, public through social media.

An insider from the CEO's office said that recently, some unsolicited messages and phone calls had been coming to the mobile number of the CEO.

Later, the CEO's office traced that his number was circulated through Facebook, and the CEO's office was able to trace those Facebook accounts through which CEO Agarwal's mobile number was circulated.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good move! But 6,500 micro-observers just for one state? It shows how complex and sensitive the situation is in Bengal. The fact that it's an exclusive concept for WB says a lot. ECI is taking no chances this time.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the effort for transparency, I'm concerned about the "huge numbers" of voters getting notices. Are people being informed properly? A voter list error shouldn't disenfranchise legitimate citizens. The process must be fair and communicative.
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Aman W
The part about the CEO's mobile number being leaked is shocking and unacceptable. This kind of harassment of officials has to stop. Strong legal action is needed against those who did it. We must respect the institutions that uphold our democracy.
K
Karthik V
Appointing central government staff is a smart move to ensure impartiality. But I hope these micro-observers are given proper training and security. Working on the ground in Bengal can be challenging. Their safety is paramount.
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Nisha Z
All this special attention for West Bengal... sometimes it feels like the entire election machinery is focused on one state. While it's important, I hope the ECI is giving equal rigorous attention to voter list revisions in other states as well. Just a thought.

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