– Md. Sami Ahmad
Amid the Supreme Court’s concerns over Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a critical issue has emerged: why are ECI officials not issuing receipts for the enumeration forms and documents submitted by voters?
The lack of receipts undermines transparency and accountability in the SIR process. Voters have expressed concerns about their inability to challenge potential deletions from the voter list, as they lack documentation to prove compliance with verification requirements. Social organisations have argued that this issue warrants legal scrutiny, as it violates the ECI’s own guidelines and undermines the democratic process.
Several social organisations and voters argue that this issue should be raised in the Supreme Court, as the ECI is failing to adhere to its own SIR guidelines, allowing arbitrary practices to prevail.
For instance, the ECI mandates that voter verification forms must be accompanied by supporting documents. However, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) appointed by the Commission are reluctant to accept these documents. When voters request receipts for submitted forms and documents, BLOs often refuse outright, claiming it is ‘not required’. Upon insistence, they argue that they are provided with only one copy of the enumeration form, leaving no provision for issuing a receipt.
The ECI’s advertisements state that two copies of the form will be provided, with BLOs signing and providing a receipt on one copy. However, the ground reality is starkly different – BLOs frequently refuse to issue any receipt. Speaking anonymously, some BLOs admit they receive only one copy of the form from the Commission, making it impossible to provide a second copy as a receipt.
Voters are left questioning what recourse they have if their names are removed from the voter list, as they lack proof of having submitted forms or documents. They argue that the ECI should face legal scrutiny for creating confusion and failing to enforce its own rules.
Initially, the ECI listed 11 acceptable documents in its advertisements, stating that at least one must accompany the enumeration form. Later advertisements omitted this list, suggesting forms could be submitted without documents. When voters pointed out this apparent policy change, the Commission issued a press note claiming that the original rules remained unchanged. Yet, in many areas, BLOs continue to refuse to receive the documents, fuelling fears among voters that their names could be struck off the voter list due to incomplete documentation, despite submitting enumeration forms.
The ECI has been quite prompt in claiming that the SIR process is being conducted smoothly and successfully, but it is not providing any answers about this aspect of the process. Even those who submit the enumeration forms with documents are not getting any acknowledgement. Such persons are getting only an SMS which says, “Enumeration form submitted successfully for EPIC No. …” This SMS seems to be of no use as it does not say anything about the document submission and how it can be kept for future purposes.
Analysts say that apart from the voters, the BLOs are also facing problems in implementing the order of the ECI. They say that the BLOs are under huge pressure and they are just obeying what is being told to them orally. The BLOs are being asked to submit maximum forms as soon as possible.
Bihar is now grappling with widespread confusion over whether documents are required. A recent report indicates voters can submit documents until September 1, but the ECI has yet to clarify the basis for document submission. Will documents be required only when the ECI officials demand that, or must they be submitted proactively after form submission? The Commission also needs to address what happens to voters who have already submitted documents.
The voters and social organisations say that the ECI must ensure that BLOs issue receipts for all submitted forms and documents. This could involve providing BLOs with sufficient copies of verification forms or implementing a digital receipt system to track submissions.
The ECI should issue clear and consistent guidelines on document submission requirements and communicate these effectively to voters and BLOs. The Election Commission must invest in training BLOs to ensure uniform adherence to guidelines
Even if no formal petition is filed, the Supreme Court should take note of these issues and address the confusion plaguing Bihar’s voter verification process.
(Source: India Tomorrow)
