Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) deadline. In his petition, O'Brien alleges that there are procedural irregularities in the Election Commission's SIR process. He also claims that instructions given by the Election Commission to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) through platforms like WhatsApp violate the rights of ordinary citizens.
The petition argues that the Election Commission is stopping booth-level agents from assisting voters during SIR hearings. It also states that the public has no information about the software used to map the revised voter list with the 2002 list. Even the draft voter list published on December 16 was issued without prior notice or hearings. According to the petition, 58,20,898 people's names have been deleted, which it calls a 'mass deletion of voters.'
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Key demands in the petition
The petition requests several measures to ensure fairness:
1. Extend the deadline for claims and objections beyond January 15.
2. Stop using apps like WhatsApp to give formal instructions.
3. Ensure that no valid voter is left out due to mapping issues.
4. Allow Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to assist voters at hearing centres.
5. Permit virtual hearings for migrant voters or allow family members to represent them.
6. Accept documents like Permanent Residence Certificate, Panchayat Residence Certificate, and Family Registers in the verification process.
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also spoken out against the SIR process. On Monday, at Sagar Island, she announced that her party would approach the Supreme Court over SIR harassment. On Tuesday, a party MP followed through by filing the petition in court.
