In a major move to streamline the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has issued fresh directives exempting several categories of voters from personal appearance at mandatory hearings.
The decision aims to make the verification process “hassle-free” for citizens currently away from the state or those with physical limitations.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has warned of strict action against Booth Level Officers (BLOs) who fail to comply with exemption rules.

Who is exempted from in person appearance?

According to official memorandums issued on Thursday (Memo No. 246(24) and 252(24)-Home), the following groups are no longer required to attend SIR hearings in person, even if they are flagged for “unmapped” or “logical discrepancy” cases

According to a statement, electors who are staying overseas for purposes such as education, official engagement, medical treatment, or any other valid reason will be exempted from personal appearance during the hearing process of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.

“The commission has taken a facilitative approach to ensure that eligible electors temporarily residing abroad are not inconvenienced during the hearing process,” an official said.
The statement further clarified that such electors may authorise any family member to appear on their behalf.

Alternative Verification Process
The exempted voters can:

The SIR exercise is currently in a high-intensity phase, triggered by a high number of “logical discrepancies” (such as age gaps between parents and children being less than 15 years).
As of January 8, 2026, the CEO’s office reported the SIR exercise status:

— With PTI inputs