The Election Commission is set to begin voter hearings in West Bengal from December 23 as part of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. (Credit: x/@PuruliaSveep)
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal Manoj Agarwal, along with special observers deputed by the ECI, has begun preparations for the hearings. On Wednesday, Agarwal held a meeting with all 294 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), where six directives were issued:
– Like enumeration forms, two copies of notices will be issued. BLOs will distribute them — one copy to be retained by the elector, while the second will be kept by the BLO with the elector’s signature.
– All notices will be auto-generated through the ECI application. Electors will get one week’s time to appear before the ERO or AERO after receiving the notice.
– Physical appearance is mandatory. No virtual hearings or representation by another person will be allowed. If the elector fails to appear on the scheduled date, the date may be changed.
– Hearings will be conducted in government premises such as BDO, SDO or District Magistrate offices. If unavailable, another government premise may be earmarked.
– A maximum of 100 hearings per day can be disposed of by an ERO or AERO. Initially, the cap was 50, but it was increased considering the projected volume — estimated to exceed one crore hearings statewide.
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– Hearing venues must ensure adequate seating arrangements, xerox facilities and drinking water so that electors do not face discomfort.
According to ECI sources, the first batch of hearings will involve electors who have no mapping with the 2002 SIR. This will be followed by those with progeny mapping and logical discrepancies. Even those in self-mapping cases with logical discrepancies will be called upon.
The Bengal CEO’s office has sought permission from the ECI to recruit additional AEROs to complete hearings within the stipulated timeline, but approval is still awaited.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
