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Bengal Voter ID Row: ECI Rejects Banglar Bari Certificates as Proof

The Election Commission of India has clarified that certificates issued under the West Bengal government's "Banglar Bari" housing finance scheme will not be accepted as valid identity documents during voter list hearings. This is because the ECI's specified document requires identification of a particular plot or house, while the Banglar Bari certificate is solely a finance document. The Commission's digital system is programmed to reject any uploads that do not match its 13 specified documents, including this alternative. The final voters' list for the crucial upcoming Assembly elections is scheduled for publication on February 14.

Key Points: ECI Clarifies Banglar Bari Certificates Not Valid Voter ID in Bengal

  • ECI specifies 13 valid ID documents
  • Banglar Bari is a housing finance scheme
  • Certificate does not identify specific property
  • System rejects non-specified uploads
  • Final voter list due Feb 14
2 min read

SIR in Bengal: ECI clarifies housing finance certificates won't be accepted as valid identity documents

ECI clarifies housing finance certificates under Banglar Bari scheme are not valid identity documents for voter list hearings in West Bengal. Details inside.

"A housing finance certificate cannot be treated at par with any land or house allotment certificate. - CEO's Office Insider"

Kolkata, Dec 29

The Election Commission of India has clarified that an alternative to the specified "land or house allotment certificates" will not be treated as valid identity documents at the hearing sessions on claims and objections regarding the draft voters' list in West Bengal.

The sessions commenced on Saturday.

The Commission had specified a total of 13 documents, out of which "any land/house allotment certificate by the Government" is one of the documents and the 11th document in the list of 13 specified by the ECI on this count.

Insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said that the system of uploading of identity documents in the Commission's database has been programmed in such a manner that any other land or housing finance certificate other than a Commission-specified "any land/house allotment certificate by Government" cannot be uploaded in the system.

Hence, explained a CEO's office insider, the certificates issued by the West Bengal government under the "Banglar Bari", state-owned housing finance scheme, will not automatically be treated as a genuine identity document.

Explaining the rationale of the ECI not treating "Banglar Bari" certificate as a land or house allotment certificate, a CEO's office insider said that the ECI-specified 11th document identifies a particular plot of land or a particular house as being allotted to the voter concerned.

"However, the 'Banglar Bari' scheme is just a housing finance scheme where the voter concerned receives the money for purchasing a house and bears the expenditure for constructing that house from the money received. The certificate issued under the 'Banglar Bari' scheme does not identify the specific plot of land or any specific house being owned by the voter concerned. So a housing finance certificate cannot be treated at par with any land or house allotment certificate," the CEO's office insider explained.

The hearing sessions on the claims and objections started on December 27. The final voters' list will be published on February 14 next year.

Shortly after that, the ECI will announce the polling dates for the crucial Assembly elections scheduled next year.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I understand the technical reason, this could be problematic for many beneficiaries of Banglar Bari. They might have used that certificate as primary ID. The state govt and ECI should have coordinated better to avoid last-minute confusion for common people. 🤔
S
Suresh O
EC is absolutely right. We must have strict and clear rules for voter identification to maintain the integrity of the electoral roll. No shortcuts should be allowed, especially before such a crucial election. Jai Hind!
A
Ananya R
The timing is interesting, isn't it? Just before the assembly elections. Hope this doesn't end up disenfranchising genuine voters who were told this certificate was valid. The administration needs to run a massive awareness campaign now.
D
David E
As an observer, the logic seems sound. A finance certificate doesn't prove residence or ownership of a specific property. The ECI's list of 13 documents is quite comprehensive—Aadhaar, passport, driving license etc. People have other options.
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Meera T
This is why Aadhaar is the best universal ID. Less confusion, more acceptance. Everyone should just link their voter ID with Aadhaar and be done with it. Saves so much trouble.

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