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ECI Tightens Voter List Verification in Bengal, Holds DMs Accountable for Docs

The Election Commission of India has directed District Magistrates and District Electoral Officers in West Bengal to personally verify the authenticity of identity documents submitted during voter list revision hearings. A special app will be introduced for officials to certify and upload documents, with only 13 specified IDs accepted unless exceptional approval is granted. DEOs are also accountable for preventing political party agents from attending hearings and for intervening if sessions are forcibly disrupted. The final voter list will be published in February ahead of next year's Assembly elections.

Key Points: ECI Directs Bengal DMs to Verify Voter Documents, Bars Party Agents

  • Two-level document verification
  • Special app for DMs/DEOs
  • Only 13 valid identity documents
  • Political agents barred from hearings
  • Accountability for forged documents
3 min read

SIR in Bengal: ECI asks DMs & DEOs to check authenticity of hearing sessions' documents

ECI mandates DMs and DEOs in Bengal to authenticate voter identity documents via a special app, restricts valid IDs to 13, and bars political agents from hearings.

"Now the Commission has decided to bring the DMs, also the DEOs, under a particular system in finally checking the authenticity – CEO office sources"

Kolkata, Dec 31

The Election Commission of India has fixed the multi-prong accountability of the District Magistrates, also the District Electoral Officers, as regards to checking the authenticity of the supporting identity documents to be provided by the voters' summoned for the ongoing hearing sessions on the claims and objections on the draft voters' list which is a part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal.

The Deputy Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Bharati, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and the other top ECI officials had a meeting with the DMs and the DEOs on Tuesday, where accountabilities in the matter were fixed, and instructions accordingly were given.

A special app will be introduced for DMs and DEOs, through which they will conduct the final check of the authenticity of supporting identity documents, certify them and upload them.

"As already directed by the Commission, there will be two-level checking of the authenticity of the supporting documents, the first by that of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and the second through the DMs, also the DEOs. Now the Commission has decided to bring the DMs, also the DEOs, under a particular system in finally checking the authenticity and thereafter clearing those documents as authentic," said sources in the CEO's office.

Secondly, the DMs and DEOs will have to restrict themselves only to accepting the 13 identity documents specified by the Commission as valid identity documents.

In exceptional cases, the CEO's office sources said, where alternative documents could be accepted as an identity document, the DEO concerned will have to take prior approval from the ECI.

At the same time, the DEOs have also been made accountable so that not a single booth-level agent (BLA) of any political party is allowed during hearing sessions on claims and objections on the draft voters' list.

The DEOs have also been made accountable in case of any future incident of forcefully stopping the hearing process by any political leaders. The Commission had instructed the DEOs to personally reach the hearing venue in the future in case any such forceful stopping of the session is reported, as it happened earlier in the day.

It is further learnt that in case the Commission, in due course, notices any forged document being cleared as a genuine document because of a deliberate overlooking factor, the DEOs concerned will be held accountable for that error.

In case of deliberate errors, the Commission's observations might also hurt the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of the clearing officials concerned.

The draft voters' list was published on December 16. The final voters' list will be published on February 14 next year. Soon after that, the ECI will announce the polling dates for the crucial Assembly elections in West Bengal, scheduled for next year.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good move! Holding DMs and DEOs directly accountable will make them more careful. The part about their ACR being affected for deliberate errors is a strong deterrent. We need such strict measures to protect the integrity of our voter list. 🇮🇳
R
Rohit P
While the intent is good, I hope this doesn't create unnecessary hurdles for genuine voters, especially the elderly or those in rural areas who might not have all 13 specified documents. The process should be strict but also citizen-friendly.
M
Michael C
Interesting read. The use of a special app for certification and upload is a step towards digitization and transparency. It's critical for the credibility of the upcoming assembly elections. The world will be watching.
S
Shreya B
No political party agents allowed during hearings? That's a bold and necessary move to prevent intimidation and pressure. The DEOs being asked to personally reach the venue if sessions are stopped is also a good directive. ECI seems serious this time.
K
Karthik V
Accountability is key. For too long, officials have worked under political pressure in Bengal. Fixing direct accountability on the DMs/DEOs might give them the backbone to follow rules without fear or favour. Jai Hind!
N
Nisha Z

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