Bengal BLO issues himself, wife SIR notice over voter data errors
text_fields
Kolkata: Demonstrating strict adherence to rules, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in West Bengal on Wednesday issued a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing notice to himself and his wife after “logical discrepancies” were found in their voter registration details.
Devshankar Chatterjee, BLO of booth number 165 in Katwa, East Burdwan district, followed the Election Commission’s rules meticulously, showing no special treatment even for his own family. His wife, Anindita Chatterjee, acknowledged and supported his strict compliance.
The incident occurred in Katwa town. Chatterjee, a teacher at Bhomorkol Primary School in Ketugram, currently resides with his family in the Chowrangi area of Ward No. 10 in Katwa. During the voter verification process, discrepancies were noticed in both his and his wife’s documents.
Specifically, the Election Commission flagged a spelling mistake in Chatterjee’s father’s surname and an age discrepancy between his wife and her father. Chatterjee’s father, Pulakendra Chatterjee, had a spelling error in his name, prompting the notice. Meanwhile, Anindita Chatterjee’s father, Anil Chatterjee of Nakashipara in Nadia district, was shown as only 50 years older than her, which also led to a notice.
Upon receiving the notice via the Election Commission’s app, Devshankar Chatterjee performed his duty as a BLO. “Even though I am a BLO, I am obligated to follow the rules of the Election Commission. My own family does not receive any special treatment. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law,” he told reporters.
Consequently, like any other citizen, the couple will have to stand in line and participate in the hearing. Being the BLO, Chatterjee issued the notice first to himself and then to his wife.
“This is his official duty. Whatever he has done in the course of performing his duties, he has done according to the rules,” said Anindita Chatterjee.
Katwa Sub-Divisional Officer Anirban Bose added: “Even though he is a BLO, he has to work according to the Election Commission’s rules. The same rules apply to his own family as well.”
With IANS inputs