Kolkata, 19 January (H.S.) :
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the former Medinipur district has triggered an unprecedented controversy as electoral officers themselves have begun receiving notices for discrepancies in their own voter data. The same administrative machinery that has been sending notices to the public for correction of voter identity details is now reportedly facing the issue internally, causing widespread anger within official circles.
In the Tamalpur Assembly constituency, several election officials, including the Block Development Officer (BDO), Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs), have been served hearing notices citing inconsistencies in their personal data. This development has raised concerns about the reliability of the voter data system and the technology being used.
According to administrative sources, Sheikh Wasim Raza, the BDO and AERO of Tamalpur, received a revision notice from the election department on Sunday. Ironically, Raza is currently engaged in daily hearings to rectify errors in the voter data of hundreds of citizens. The notice, sent to him from Uluberia South in Howrah, reportedly pointed out discrepancies in either his or his father’s name. Raza has said that all his documents and details are accurate, and the notice reflects the immaturity of the system.
The matter has not been limited to a single officer. Other election officials affected include Mukul Kumar Das, a resident of Howrah; Anup Maiti, the officer of booth number 207 in Tamalpur; and Haroon Al Rashid Sheikh, the officer of booth number 83, who has been directed to appear with evidence on January 24.
A large number of administrative officers have alleged that this unnecessary procedure is causing mental distress and disrupting important government work. They have raised the question of how timely resolution of public grievances will be possible if they are forced to attend hearings elsewhere to prove their own data accuracy.
Local residents and the affected officials believe that the crisis has arisen due to technical flaws in the election department’s AI-based system and software. They are demanding immediate intervention by the Election Commission to address the technical disorder and relieve the administrative machinery from this futile ordeal.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
