3 min readKolkataJan 9, 2026 05:54 AM IST
First published on: Jan 9, 2026 at 05:54 AM IST
In a major move to streamline the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has issued fresh directives exempting several categories of voters from personal appearance at mandatory hearings.
The decision aims to make the verification process “hassle-free” for citizens currently away from the state or those with physical limitations.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has warned of strict action against Booth Level Officers (BLOs) who fail to comply with exemption rules.
Who is exempted from in person appearance?
According to official memorandums issued on Thursday (Memo No. 246(24) and 252(24)-Home), the following groups are no longer required to attend SIR hearings in person, even if they are flagged for “unmapped” or “logical discrepancy” cases
- Students and private sector employees: Electors temporarily residing outside West Bengal for studies or employment in the private sector.
- Government & PSU personnel: State/Central government employees, military, paramilitary, and PSU staff posted outside the state.
- Medical cases: Individuals currently hospitalized or away for medical purposes.
- NRIs and overseas residents: Electors temporarily living abroad for study, official engagement, or other reasons.
- Electors aged 85+ years, the sick, and Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
According to a statement, electors who are staying overseas for purposes such as education, official engagement, medical treatment, or any other valid reason will be exempted from personal appearance during the hearing process of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“The commission has taken a facilitative approach to ensure that eligible electors temporarily residing abroad are not inconvenienced during the hearing process,” an official said.
The statement further clarified that such electors may authorise any family member to appear on their behalf.
Alternative Verification Process
The exempted voters can:
- Send a family member or authorized person on behalf of the elector to the hearing with required documents
- Submit proof of relationship and one of the 13 ECI-notified documents (such as Aadhaar, Passport, or PAN card) as per the directive dated October 27, 2025.
- Doorstep verification: For senior citizens (85+), the sick, and PWDs, election officials will conduct verifications directly at their residences. If a hearing notice has already been issued to such a voter, officials will contact them via phone to advise them not to attend in person.
The SIR exercise is currently in a high-intensity phase, triggered by a high number of “logical discrepancies” (such as age gaps between parents and children being less than 15 years).
As of January 8, 2026, the CEO’s office reported the SIR exercise status:
- Electors with no mapping: 31,68,426
- Notices delivered: 25,60,476
- Hearings conducted on Thursday: 68,577
— With PTI inputs
The SIR exercise is currently in a high-intensity phase, triggered by a high number of "logical discrepancies" (such as age gaps between parents and children being less than 15 years).
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