New Delhi/Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a clarification on Tuesday regarding claims that it had served a notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. The Commission refuted accusations made by Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, stating that no notice requiring Sen's physical presence at a hearing centre had been issued.
The controversy erupted after Banerjee, speaking at a public rally in Birbhum, Sen’s native district, alleged that the renowned economist had been summoned for a hearing regarding claims and objections over the West Bengal draft voters’ list. " The man who has made the country proud has been served with a hearing notice. The man who brought global recognition for India — Amartya Sen — has received notice for the SIR hearing," Banerjee had claimed.
However, the ECI clarified that the issue regarding Sen’s voter registration was merely a "logical discrepancy" stemming from a spelling error in the enumeration form.
According to sources within the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the 92-year-old economist falls under the specific exemption category for senior citizens.
" As per the Commission’s guidelines, senior citizens attaining 85 years of age and above will not be required to physically appear at the hearing centre, and in their cases, the electoral registration officer (EROs) concerned will personally visit their residences and conduct the necessary hearing for necessary corrections," an official explained. Given that Sen's case involved only a minor spelling correction, the Commission has directed the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO) to rectify the error directly.
Amartya Sen maintains his voting rights at his ancestral residence in Bolpur-Santiniketan, Birbhum district, despite long-term residency in the United States. His last participation in the electoral process at this constituency was during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
(Inputs from IANS)