Bengal SIR 2.0: AEROs flag ‘informal orders on WhatsApp’ ‘impossible workload’ write to CEO

“…we are deeply concerned by recent developments whereby a large number of electors who were earlier reflected as having linkage with the previous SIR are now being pushed into the CEO Portal as “logical discrepancy” cases. Through various WhatsApp communications, virtual meetings, and verbal directions from the ECI/CEO offices, we have been informed that such electors are to be treated as “no mapping” cases and that fresh hearings must be conducted for them,’ the letter read.

“At the outset, we respectfully submit that there is no clear, written order or comprehensive guideline issued by the Election Commission of India specifically laying down the procedure for conducting hearings under the SIR for electors who are unable to establish linkage with the previous SIR… In the absence of such a formal framework, field officers are being compelled to act on informal and ad hoc instructions, which lack statutory backing and have led to confusion, uncertainty, and procedural difficulties in implementation,” the letter added.

The letter complained of “impossible workload and deadline” on the AEROs. “Each AERO has been assigned approximately 3,000–4,000 ‘logical discrepancy’ cases, in addition to the existing “no mapping” cases. The entire month of January is being utilised almost exclusively for “no mapping” hearings, leaving virtually no time to conduct proper inquiry and verification for the thousands of logical discrepancy cases before the final deadline of February 7, 2025,” the letter stated.

“Such compressed timelines are inconsistent with Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which mandates that a voter must be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before deletion of his or her name. Handling thousands of cases within a few days does not allow for a fair, meaningful inquiry and risks reducing a quasi-judicial function to a mechanical exercise, likely resulting in large-scale litigation against deletion orders,’ the group of AEROs wrote.

The letter also noted “contradictory instructions on acceptable documents”. According to the AEROs, the official EC guidelines of October 27 provided a list of 13 categories of documents that may be accepted as proof of eligibility, including birth

Certificates issued by competent authorities. “However, we are receiving unofficial instructions through WhatsApp messages and verbal communications stating that only government-issued birth certificates will be accepted,” the AEROs wrote, adding, “We have received WhatsApp messages directing us not to accept family registers issued by local authorities, despite their inclusion in the official 13-document list”.

“We have been told not to accept MP admit cards, though they are admissible under Rule 9; not to accept school certificates, which are admissible under Rules 9 and 20 (Rules 9 and 20 of the Registration of Electoral Rule 1960, which permit examination of other official records, conduct of inquiries, and recording of sworn statements. These contradictory directions have created serious confusion at the ground level,” the letter highlighted.

Two days ago, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had alleged that instructions to the poll officials were being issued on WhatsApp. “The Election Commission is being run on WhatsApp. Who knows if they’ve bought WhatsApp or not… I’m sorry to say that people’s names are being removed from the voter list… If people’s rights are removed, you too will vanish. Keep this much in mind,” the chief minister had said at a public event at Gangasagar Mela on January 5.