NewKerala.com

Bengal Voter List Scrutiny: Why Only Central Officials Are Being Appointed

The Election Commission is taking extra precautions for West Bengal's voter list revision. They've decided that only officials from the Central government or its undertakings will act as micro observers during the upcoming hearings. These observers will ensure all procedures are followed correctly under the watch of special roll observers. This move highlights the high-stakes nature of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

Key Points: ECI Appoints Only Central Officials as Bengal Voter List Observers

  • Hearing sessions for voter list claims to start next week as part of Special Intensive Revision
  • Micro observers will be Group B or above officials from Central govt or PSUs
  • They will work under special roll observers, serving or retired IAS officers
  • Final voters' list for Bengal will be published on February 14 next year
2 min read

Bengal SIR: Only Central govt officials to be appointed as micro observers for hearing sessions

Election Commission mandates only Central govt officials as micro observers for Bengal's voter list hearings, ensuring strict oversight ahead of crucial Assembly polls.

"The main task of the micro observers will be to ensure that the hearing sessions... are being conducted... as per guidelines laid down by the Commission. - CEO Office Insider"

Kolkata, Dec 19

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to appoint only Central government officials as micro observers for the hearing sessions on the claims and objections on the draft voters’ list for West Bengal, which was published on December 16.

The hearing sessions on the claims and objections, which are part of the second stage of the three-part Special Intensive Revision (SIR), will start next week.

An insider from the CEO’s office said that the employees to be appointed as micro observers for the hearing session can be either direct Central government officials or officials from Central public sector undertakings, or officials from different public sector banks.

Those appointed as micro officers for the hearing session will be from the Group B category or above.

“A request had gone from the CEO’s office to the ECI headquarters in New Delhi seeking permission for appointments of micro observers for the hearing session. The reply had come from the Commission’s headquarters on Friday afternoon, granting the permission for appointment of micro observers,” a CEO’s office insider said.

The main task of the micro observers will be to ensure that the hearing sessions on claims and objections are being conducted by the electoral registration officers (EROs) as per guidelines laid down by the Commission.

Again, the micro observers will function under the supervision of the special roll observers, either serving or retired Indian Administrative Service officers, who were appointed by the commission to review the ongoing SIR exercise in the state that started on November 4.

The District Magistrates, as well as the District Electoral Officers, will be responsible for ensuring the security of both the special roll observers as well as the micro observers.

The final voters’ list will be published on February 14 next year, following which the Commission will announce the dates for the crucial Assembly elections.

The ECI had also sent a request to the Union Home Ministry for the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to secure the CEO’s office in central Kolkata immediately.

It is learnt that, as per the ECI’s proposal, the CAPF deployment will continue till the time the model code of conduct is enforced in the state after the dates for the Assembly elections in the state are announced.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good move. The state government officials are often under pressure from local politicians. Central observers will be more impartial. Hope this brings some much-needed credibility to the electoral process in Bengal.
A
Aman W
While I understand the need for impartiality, this feels like an overreach. It undermines our state machinery. Are we saying no state official can be trusted? This centralization of everything is worrying.
S
Sarah B
The request for CAPF deployment till the model code kicks in is telling. It shows the level of concern about security and potential intimidation. The ECI is taking no chances, which is probably wise given the stakes.
V
Vikram M
Final list on Feb 14! Valentine's Day gift for democracy 😄. Jokes aside, meticulous revision is needed. So many bogus voters get added during revisions. Hope these micro observers are strict and do their duty without fear or favour.
K
Karthik V
The key will be execution. Appointing officials is one thing, ensuring they are truly independent and not influenced through other channels is another. The ECI must have a robust monitoring mechanism for these observers themselves.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50