Domicile certificates rejected as proof in West Bengal SIR electoral roll hearings

The Hindu
The Hindu
28m ago
Domicile certificates submitted as evidence in West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings will not be treated as valid, and some voters may be called again for fresh hearings.
Domicile certificates rejected as proof in West Bengal SIR electoral roll hearings
A What happened
A senior poll official said domicile certificates submitted during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings in West Bengal are not valid at present. The official said voters who already submitted domicile certificates may be summoned again for fresh hearings. The official said acceptable SIR documents include permanent address or residence certificates issued by the State, and domicile certificates do not qualify. The official said nearly 10,000 newly issued voter ID cards were returned because intended recipients were not found at the given addresses, and the cards will be resent after the final electoral rolls are published on February 14.

Key insights

  • 1

    Only State-notified permanent residence documents are admissible in SIR hearings: The official said the SIR framework allows only documents notified by the State government as proof of permanent residence, and domicile certificates do not meet that criterion.

  • 2

    Returned voter ID cards will be resent after final roll publication: The official said no immediate action will be taken until the final electoral rolls are published on February 14, and returned voter ID cards will be resent following due process.

Takeaways

West Bengal election officials are not accepting domicile certificates for SIR hearings and plan to resend returned voter ID cards after the final electoral rolls are published on February 14.

Topics

World & Politics Elections Policy & Regulation Law & Public Safety Courts

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