The date of publication of the final list of SIR in West Bengal has been extended by a week. This list was to be published on 14 February. But the Supreme Court has extended this time on the basis that the documents of a large number of voters are yet to be scrutinized and the appointment of new officers is pending.
In the hearing held on February 4, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself appeared in the Supreme Court. On that day, she had said that the Election Commission has made officials micro observers by bringing them from outside states. These officials do not understand the local conditions. The company had also said that on the basis of minor mistakes, notices of logical discrepancy have been sent to a large number of people. The names of more than one crore people were on the verge of being removed from the voter list.
In response to Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission had said that it is working with full responsibility. The name of any eligible voter will not be allowed to be deleted from the list. Micro observers were created by bringing officers from other states because the West Bengal government did not provide officers to the Election Commission despite repeated requests. On this, Mamta had said that she is ready to provide officers.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself did not appear in the hearing held on Monday, February 9, but on her behalf, senior lawyer Shyam Diwan told the court that the state government wants to give 8505 officers to the Election Commission. Advocate D Seshadri Naidu, appearing for the Election Commission, said that now the work of the Election Commission has progressed a lot. It will take time to train the new officers who are being made available.
Naidu also said that the Commission has no information about the qualifications of the officers being given. In such a situation, it cannot be said whether he will be able to work as a micro observer or not. This is a responsible job. Micro Observers monitor the papers and advise the ERO (District Electoral Officer).
The Supreme Court took note of the views of both the parties and gave the order. The court said that the Election Commission should work on the basis of the qualifications of the new officers that the government is providing. Officers who are capable of working as micro observers should be given this work. Brief training should be provided to these people. After this, the court said that the documents of a large number of voters are still pending in the state and new officers are also being appointed. Therefore, the period for scrutiny of documents is being extended by one week.
At the end of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Government, mentioned the violence taking place in the state to disrupt the SIR process. He said that no FIR is being registered on the complaints being made by the booth level officers. The miscreants burnt the bundles of complaints lodged by the people regarding doubtful voters.
Mehta said that he is not saying these things on his own behalf, rather the Election Commission has filed an affidavit and told this to the Supreme Court. He is only requesting that the Supreme Court take cognizance of this and indicate that the Constitution is applicable in the entire country. The work of the Election Commission cannot be disrupted in any state through violence. On this the Chief Justice said that he is seeking answers from the state DGP. DGP should tell what action he has taken regarding the violence.
