Maharashtra CEO seeks four ECINet changes during SIR notice phase, writes to poll body

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra has reportedly written to the Election Commission (EC) seeking four changes in the ECINet software during the notice phase of the ongoing SIR process in the state.

The development comes amid the ongoing controversy over reported disagreements over the SIR process between Chief Election Commissioner Kumar and the two other Election Commissioners, as reported earlier by the Indian Express.

Maharashtra is in the notice phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with the state election machinery seeking changes in the software used to process voter-list cases.

Maharashtra CEO seeks ECINet changes

Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam has written to the Election Commission seeking greater discretion for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) while dealing with notices, reported NDTV. The report further stated that one of the requests is to allow EROs to decide cases involving "logical discrepancies" after hearing the concerned elector.

Also Read: SC agrees to hear next week plea against EC decisions

The same issue had earlier been raised by Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.

EROs seek flexibility on logical discrepancies

A "logical discrepancy" occurs when ECINet is unable to establish a link between an elector and a parent or grandparent listed in the previous SIR. The issue may involve differences in a parent's name or questions about age. Such a mismatch does not by itself mean that the person is ineligible to vote.

Also Read: ECI’s internal dissent: What does the law say, and what happens next? | Capital Beat

The Maharashtra CEO has also sought changes that would give EROs more choices while processing notices. As per election law, EROs are responsible for electoral rolls in their respective Assembly constituencies. They are generally SDM-level officers who handle claims and objections and decide on additions or deletions from voter lists.

EC allows waiver of some hearings

Chockalingam has sought permission for EROs to waive a personal hearing when the documents submitted by an elector are considered sufficient.

Following a full Commission meeting on September 26, the Election Commission said EROs could exempt people flagged for logical discrepancies from personal hearings. It also said "various upgradations of the portal have already been made based on the inputs from State CEOs in the past few months," adding that "in case any further flexibility is required by the field officers, that will be made operational."

Also Read: ‘Turn approver or face trial’: Congress targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar over SIR, 'Mark VIP'

As reported by The Indian Express, Sandhu had written on August 14 that CEOs, DEOs and EROs were stating their statutory responsibilities were being affected by "curtailed" powers under centralised control of ERONet at DG(IT) level.

Maharashtra draft roll shows 21.1per cent decline

"It is strange," he said, "that all the responsibilities regarding Electoral Roll lie on EROs, DEOs and CEOs as per law, but the access control has been centralised by DG(IT)."

Maharashtra's draft electoral roll, released on August 31, showed a 21.1 per cent reduction in electors. The final roll is scheduled for November 16. Chockalingam told NDTV that more than 2 crore names removed from the draft list belonged mainly to voters who had died or shifted.