Row over micro-observers continues, some report to work but EC ‘yet to get list’
Times of India | 11 February 2026
Kolkata: The confusion over micro-observers continued on Tuesday, with the Bengal CEO's office claiming that they did not receive any formal list of 8,505 Group-B officers from the state. The EC also said details of those officers sought from the state did not reach them till Tuesday afternoon.
The SC, in its order on Monday, said, "Let the State Government ensure that all 8,505 Group B officers/officials, whose list was handed over to the Court today, report to the District Electoral Officers/EROs by 5 pm tomorrow."
Asked how many of the officers reported on Tuesday, a senior EC official said, "The Bengal CEO office did not receive any formal list. An officer at the office got a list with 8,505 names on WhatsApp. Unless we get the formal list, how could we issue appointment letters?"
The CEO on Monday wrote to the chief secretary, seeking details of the officers, such as the name, designation, gender, DOB, mobile number, email, residential address with assembly constituency, and status of vigilance clearance, etc. "The CS was asked to send details by 3 pm on Tuesday. However, no report came till 5 pm. We hope to get details by Wednesday," the official said.
However, several state officials reported to the Kolkata South DEO's office at Survey Building in Alipore on Tuesday. The state list of 8,505 Group-B officers/officials had names of several lower division clerks, upper division clerks, typists, and amins, among others. The list had names of 110 lower division clerks of various govt depts. The list contained names of 1,172 upper division clerks, 1,466 clerks, 155 pharmacists, 30 amins, and 49 typists.
The Bengal govt in a statement said the "list of Group ‘B' employees submitted to ECI is strictly in accordance with the existing pay-level criteria as notified by the finance dept, vide memorandum 2160-F(J)WB dated 06.10.2020. As per the said memorandum, classification of state govt employees into Group ‘A', ‘B', ‘C' and ‘D' has been clearly defined in accordance with existing rules. The preparation and submission of the list of Group ‘B' employees has been carried out scrupulously following these notified norms, without any deviation."