Getting your name deleted from the voter list can be a big shock for any citizen. Many people fear that now they will not get the benefits of ration, pension, government subsidy or other schemes. Amidst the controversy related to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, the Supreme Court has made one important thing clear.
The Supreme Court has said that if a person’s name has been removed from the SIR process, then his other statutory rights cannot be considered to be abolished on this basis alone. The court said that such people can continue to get ration cards, subsidized grains and other legal benefits and if there is any problem, they can approach the concerned authority or the High Court.
Demand made from Supreme Court
This matter came into limelight when complaints of deletion of names of a large number of people came to light during the revision of voter list in West Bengal. The petitioners had demanded from the Supreme Court that the people whose names have been removed should continue to get necessary government facilities. During the hearing, the court said that being named in the electoral list and getting benefits of government welfare schemes are different legal processes. The court also made it clear that those who are being deprived of any benefit should first adopt the legal remedies available in the High Court instead of coming directly to the Supreme Court.
- Complaints regarding deletion of names in large numbers during SIR in West Bengal.
- The Supreme Court said – deletion of name does not end other rights.
- Ration card and subsidized grains can be available.
- For relief, first go to the concerned department and then to the High Court.
- The Supreme Court refused to intervene directly.
What rights will you get? (Getty Image)
What is SIR?
SIR i.e. Special Intensive Revision is a special process of the Election Commission, the objective of which is to make the voter list completely updated and correct. During this, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) go door-to-door to verify the voters and check whether the person lives at the same address, whether he is eligible to vote or not and whether his name is registered anywhere else. Documents are also asked for during verification if required. After this entire process, wrong, duplicate or ineligible names are removed and the names of eligible people are retained in the voter list. The objective of SIR is to ensure that the voter list remains accurate and transparent at the time of elections.
How many people’s names were deleted?
After Special Scrutiny (SIR) of the voter list in West Bengal, names of about 90 lakh people were removed. Regarding this, Trinamool Congress (TMC) has claimed that among those whose names have been removed, about 63% are Hindus and 34% are Muslims. The party says that the names of a large number of Bengali Hindus have also been removed from the list. However, the Election Commission has not released any official data on the basis of religion, so these claims have not been independently confirmed. This is the reason why the political debate on this issue has intensified and different parties are making their own claims.
What are the rights after name deletion?
The Supreme Court has said that if a person’s name has been removed from the voter list, then his ration card cannot be closed just because of this reason, nor can the benefits of cheap ration or other government schemes given to him under PDS be automatically stopped. If any officer does this, then first complain to the concerned department or ration officer. After this, if necessary, apply to the district administration. If there is no hearing there too, then the door of the High Court can be approached. The Supreme Court has clearly said that in such cases, first all remedies available under the law should be adopted.
What to do if your name is removed from the list? (Getty Image)
What to do if your name is deleted?
If your name has been removed from the voter list during SIR, then first file a claim or objection with the Election Commission and submit the necessary documents. If despite this the name is not added or the benefits of ration, cheap grains or other government schemes are stopped due to the name being removed, then first complain to the concerned department. If you do not get relief even after this, you can file a petition in the High Court.
Hearing based on evidence and records
The Supreme Court also made it clear that each case will be heard on the basis of its evidence and records, hence the same decision cannot be given on all cases. At the same time, if someone feels that his name has been wrongly removed from the voter list, then he can file a claim or objection with the Election Commission, submit the necessary documents and if necessary, can also challenge it in the court.
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