DEOs to hold public hearing for vulnerable tribals, ashram inmates and tea estate workers living for generations
Times of India | 2 January 2026
Kolkata: Tea estate workers living for generations for over 150 years in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, inmates of ashrams, particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), who do not have linkage with the Bengal's 2002 SIR roll and do not possess any of the EC's notified documents, will be verified by DEOs to get the names included in the final voter list to be published on Feb 14, a senior EC official said on Thursday.
"Our motto is no eligible citizen is left out while no ineligible person is included in the electoral rolls. For that, we have empowered the DEOs to dispose of cases based on public hearing, evidence, etc, where EC documents are unavailable," the official added.
According to an order of the office of the chief electoral officer, West Bengal, in cases where documentary evidence establishing linkage with the Bengal's 2002 SIR Roll cannot be produced by the aforesaid categories of persons due to valid, practical, or unavoidable reasons, the district election officer (DEO) will conduct a personal visit to the concerned area, hamlet, habitation, or institution.
The DEO will call a public hearing enquiry, record statements and other relevant evidence, and prepare formal proceedings duly supported by videography, along with a verified list of eligible persons identified during such enquiry. The BLAs of the concerned area or polling station shall also be consulted during the enquiry, and their views, objections, or confirmations will be duly recorded as part of the proceedings.
"Based on the above process, a consolidated and verified list of eligible persons shall be prepared and forwarded to the ERO/AEROs, who will accord due consideration to such proceedings while adjudicating and disposing of relevant forms submitted, in accordance with law," the order stated.