Kolkata: Preparations for SIR of electoral rolls in Bengal has already started, the Election Commission said in an affidavit submitted to the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday. A formal notification with guidelines for the state's SIR would be issued shortly, the EC said.
"The revision will effectively weed out ineligible entries from the electoral rolls," the EC said.
The HC was hearing a plea filed by Arun Gorain, a govt assistant systems manager from Kakdwip now on suspension, who had moved the HC against the EC and Bengal govt action against him over alleged issuing of fake birth and domicile certificates to non-citizens. He sought anticipatory bail and interim protection from arrest.
Gorain claims to be a whistleblower on the issue of irregularities in the guise of electoral roll revision.
Justice Amrita Sinha had sought a report from EC on the allegations made by Gorain.
The EC counsel mentioned that the poll panel had initiated disciplinary proceedings against Gorain because he had tried to change the login ID of an officer. According to investigators, Gorain submitted the phone from which calls were made on the date of the offence but didn't submit the SIM card. His counsel said that no notice was served upon him to submit documents or material required for the investigation. Justice Sinha directed investigators to serve notice upon the petitioner intimating what documents or materials he was required to submit.
The court gave protection to Gorain till Nov 11 and set the next hearing date for anticipatory bail on Sept 24.