Docu dilemma, reappearance call: Voters confused after Sunday camps
Times of India | 29 December 2025
Kolkata: Voters across Kolkata appeared for SIR hearings on a Sunday but left confused, unsure, and anxious about whether their issues were resolved. The confusion also stemmed from the fact that several among them were even asked to reappear for hearings.
Room number 62 of Lady Brabourne College transformed itself on Sunday with five electoral registration officers sitting near the blackboard as people huddled near their tables asking, "Is PAN, Aadhaar or ration card applicable?" One of the EROs replied, "No, get a birth certificate, matriculation certificate, or passport."
A beautician trainer in Kolkata, Neelam Thapa, angrily left the hearing saying, "I have Aadhaar, PAN, bank statement. Born in Assam, I am residing in Kolkata for years now because of work. I do not have my birth certificate or matriculation certificate with me, or any other documents they are asking for." Similarly, another elector, 55-year-old MD Parvez's wife, came for the hearing not knowing the discrepancy or documents required. They were asked to visit again on Dec 30.
A sense of confusion persisted at other camps as well. At Chetla Girls' High School, at least 150 came for the SIR hearing on Sunday, while over 100 came to Mitra Institution. The disparity between documents needed is evident, with BLOs saying that Aadhaar, as a last resort, is being accepted, but EROs are saying a big no to Aadhaar.
Sapna Singh, a resident of Masjid Bari Street in the Shyampukur assembly constituency, was seen crying as she left the hearing centre near Sovabazar. She said, "I brought all documents that the BLO asked. But now they are asking me to show my father's voter card. If it was required, why wasn't I informed earlier? My son is alone at home, and it's already around 1 pm. I couldn't even ready breakfast for them."
Princy Priya Shaw was seen at the Jessop Building with her three-month-old newborn for a hearing. After attending the hearing, she was spotted feeding her baby. She said, "I have been living here for the last seven years. I attempted progeny mapping with my father, but it failed. My baby is only three months old, and since my mother-in-law came with me, I had no choice but to bring the baby along."
Shraboni Daw, accompanied by her husband Joydeb, came to the Jessop Building to prove that Shraboni Das (maiden name) and Shraboni Daw are the same person. She said, "We live in College Street, and my paternal home is in the Amherst Street area. I submitted all documents while filling out the form, but there was a mismatch with my surname. The BLO told me to appear for the hearing for physical verification. This is nothing but harassment. They could have called me to the nearby polling booth for verification or accepted a declaration."