From teachers to medical staff, SIR deletion deprives Bangladeshi people of their right to vote (File Photo)
KOLKATA: A senior central government official in a PSU, an assistant teacher in a government school, a medical professional preparing for a national entrance exam and an insurance agent whose license depends on his voter status – all moved the Calcutta High Court last week after their names were removed from the electoral roll in Bengal during an SIR.Justice Krishna Rao told their lawyers that the petition would be heard at a later date and no relief would be provided before the election or, in the case of the doctor, before his examination.The removal of SIR has deprived 2.7 million people of the right to vote in the state. The four pending petitions now highlight a dimension that goes beyond disenfranchisement.
petitioner flag citizen fear in electoral purge
The petitioners argued that for employees and licensed professionals, removal from the electoral roll would bring their citizenship into question, which could lead to departmental action, termination of services or even cancellation of licences.One of them, a 40-year-old PSU assistant general manager, hails from the Bhagabangola assembly constituency of Murshidabad and has served for more than a decade.His name appeared on the draft roster released on December 16, but he was asked to attend the hearing because of a “clerical error” in his father’s name in the 2002 records. He submitted 11 documents but did not make it to the finals. His appeal to the designated court was inconclusive.“The sudden removal of my name from the list raises doubts about my citizenship status, which could … jeopardize my service benefits or become a barrier to continued employment,” his petition reads.A similar petition was filed by the assistant teacher. “The SIR took a lot away from these people and their voting rights suffered a significant loss. Now, these people are worried about their jobs and whether this expungement will complicate their professional lives,” his lawyer told Judge Rao on April 28, seeking an emergency hearing.A 52-year-old insurance agent from Tehatta in Nadia, whose name was included in the 2002 list, filed a lawsuit in court arguing that he might be deprived of his citizenship and have his license revoked.“His position is not only a source of livelihood but one of public trust…The arbitrary removal of his name from the electoral roll directly threatens the validity of his insurance license and agency appointment,” his lawyers said.For a 32-year-old medical professional from Nadia’s Kaliganj constituency, proving that he is a “real citizen” is a prerequisite for appearing in the comprehensive entrance exam for institutes of national importance, scheduled to be held on May 16, conducted by AIIMS Delhi. His parents and three brothers passed the SIR exam, but he failed.The young man, who worked as an in-patient staff member at Kolkata’s Sambhunath Pandit Hospital and Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, hopes judicial intervention will “not only restore (his) legal right to vote but also protect (his) career”.
