The Election Commission of India has announced that it will overrule the hearings conducted by 11 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers who were allegedly appointed illegally in the Basirhat Assembly Constituency of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The decision comes after an on ground investigation revealed significant procedural lapses in the revision of the voters list.
According to the Election Commission, the voter list revision process in Basirhat was carried out under the supervision of officials who were not appointed in accordance with prescribed rules. The inquiry found that these lapses could affect the accuracy and credibility of the electoral roll, prompting the Commission to intervene.
In a statement, the Election Commission said that all hearings conducted by the 11 officials would be set aside. To ensure transparency and fairness, new and duly appointed officials will be assigned to oversee the process. The Commission emphasized that the objective is to create an error free and updated list of electors before the next stage of the electoral process.
The Commission noted that maintaining the integrity of electoral rolls is a core responsibility under the Constitution. Any deviation from established procedures, it said, could undermine public confidence in elections. As a result, corrective measures were deemed necessary to address the situation in Basirhat.
Officials familiar with the matter stated that the on ground probe highlighted instances of improper handling of objections and claims during voter list revision. These findings raised concerns about the reliability of the process conducted by the disputed officials. The Commission has therefore decided to restart the hearings under proper supervision.
The Election Commission also said that strict adherence to guidelines would be ensured during the fresh hearings. Political parties and voters will be given adequate opportunity to raise objections and submit claims, in line with established election rules. The Commission reiterated that the exercise would be carried out in a transparent and impartial manner.
This development comes amid heightened political scrutiny of electoral processes in several states. Political parties have often raised concerns regarding voter list revisions, alleging irregularities or bias. The Commission has repeatedly maintained that it remains independent and committed to conducting free and fair elections.
The Election Commission added that accountability would be fixed if any official is found responsible for procedural violations. It also assured that similar lapses would not be allowed in other constituencies.
With the decision to overrule the hearings and appoint new officials, the Commission aims to restore confidence in the electoral roll revision process in Basirhat. The fresh exercise is expected to help ensure that eligible voters are included and inaccuracies are removed, strengthening the democratic process in the constituency.
