India
oi-Swastika Sruti
In the latest development, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced changes to the process for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. It stated that the ones who received notices over unmapped records or logical discrepancies will generally not have to appear personally before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
The Election Commission of India (ECI), led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi, modified the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, stating that electors with notice discrepancies will be visited by BLOs instead of needing personal appearances before EROs for easier verification.
The decision came during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi.
The meeting took place amid a political controversy over a report claiming that the three Election Commissioners had differed over aspects of the SIR exercise.
BLOs To Visit Electors With Notices
Yes ! Under the revised SIR process, the electors who received notices because their records are unmapped or show logical discrepancies will not ordinarily be required to appear before the ERO. Instead, the Booth Level Officer (BLO) will visit the concerned elector and collect the required documents.
The documents will then be uploaded on the ECI’s ECINet platform, according to the Election Commission.
The move is aimed at making the verification process easier for electors who may face difficulties in appearing before election officials in person.
Hearings Only In Exceptional Cases
It was made clear by the ECI that personal hearings would take place only if the ERO considered them necessary.
However, even then, it was recommended by the commission that the hearing take place via the internet.
ECI has also made an arrangement wherein an elector can appear through an adult relative of his choice in a hearing provided he permits him to do so.
This is meant for those who cannot attend hearings personally.
Help Desks And Special Camps Planned
The Election Commission has also directed District Election Officers (DEOs) to strengthen assistance for people who may require additional support during the SIR process.
According to the ECI, DEOs will establish an adequate number of help desks and special camps based on local requirements.
These facilities will particularly cater to people living in night shelters, labourers, economically weaker sections and homeless persons, among others.
The Commission said the facilities would also support the online hearing process.
Decision Comes Amid SIR Controversy
The meeting comes at a time when the SIR exercise has faced political scrutiny, particularly following reports about alleged differences among Election Commissioners over the electoral-roll revision process.
The Election Commission has maintained that internal discussions, operational queries and administrative feedback are part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body.
The latest decisions focus on simplifying the verification process for electors who receive notices and reducing the need for them to physically appear before election officials.
