Kolkata, 19 December (H.S.) :The Election Commission of India has taken a significant decision regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in West Bengal, deciding that only Central government officials will be appointed as micro observers for hearings on claims and objections.

The hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list, published on December 16, are scheduled to begin next week. This marks the second phase of the three-stage SIR process. According to a senior official from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, micro observers may be appointed from among direct Central government officials, employees of Central public sector undertakings, or officials from public sector banks. All such officers must belong to Group B or above.

The official said that the Chief Electoral Officer’s office had sent a request to the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi seeking approval for the appointment of micro observers. Permission was granted by the Commission on Friday afternoon.

The primary responsibility of the micro observers will be to ensure that hearings related to claims and objections are conducted by Electoral Registration Officers strictly in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission. These micro observers will function under the supervision of special roll observers appointed by the Commission. The special roll observers are serving or retired Indian Administrative Service officers tasked with reviewing the SIR exercise, which began on November 4.

District Magistrates and District Electoral Officers will be responsible for ensuring the security of both the special roll observers and the micro observers. The Election Commission has reiterated that the entire process will be carried out with complete transparency and impartiality.

According to the Commission, the final voters’ list will be published on February 14 next year. Following this, the dates for the crucial Assembly elections in the state will be announced.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has also requested the Union Home Ministry to deploy Central Armed Police Forces to provide security to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in central Kolkata. As per the Commission’s proposal, the deployment will continue until the Model Code of Conduct comes into force in the state after the announcement of the Assembly election schedule.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh