Following the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and publication of the draft electoral roll, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to begin hearings from December 23, which will continue until at least January 31.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal Manoj Agarwal, along with special observers deputed by the ECI, has begun preparations for the hearings. On Wednesday, Agarwal held a meeting with all 294 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), where six directives were issued:

– Like enumeration forms, two copies of notices will be issued. BLOs will distribute them — one copy to be retained by the elector, while the second will be kept by the BLO with the elector’s signature.

– All notices will be auto-generated through the ECI application. Electors will get one week’s time to appear before the ERO or AERO after receiving the notice.

– Physical appearance is mandatory. No virtual hearings or representation by another person will be allowed. If the elector fails to appear on the scheduled date, the date may be changed.

– Hearings will be conducted in government premises such as BDO, SDO or District Magistrate offices. If unavailable, another government premise may be earmarked.

– A maximum of 100 hearings per day can be disposed of by an ERO or AERO. Initially, the cap was 50, but it was increased considering the projected volume — estimated to exceed one crore hearings statewide.

– Hearing venues must ensure adequate seating arrangements, xerox facilities and drinking water so that electors do not face discomfort.

According to ECI sources, the first batch of hearings will involve electors who have no mapping with the 2002 SIR. This will be followed by those with progeny mapping and logical discrepancies. Even those in self-mapping cases with logical discrepancies will be called upon.

The Bengal CEO’s office has sought permission from the ECI to recruit additional AEROs to complete hearings within the stipulated timeline, but approval is still awaited.