EC issues hearing notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen amid Bengal SIR process

Kolkata: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has been served a hearing notice by the Election Commission amid the ongoing hearing phase of Bengal SIR.

Meanwhile, EC has started sending hearing notices to 94 lakh persons, who were identified under the Logical Discrepancy category by ECI.

Some spelling errors were found under Logical discrepancy and notice has been issued, EC sources told ET.

The Enumeration form was filled by a family member of Sen as he stays in United States.

As per rules, ERO will visit his residence and do the necessary home enquiry as Sen is 85 plus a senior EC official told ET.

It has been learnt that a family member had filled the form and there was some logical discrepancy related error, EC said.

In a recent notification issued, the Additional Chief Electoral Officer asked all District Magistrates to ensure that electors aged 85 years and above, and those ailing and persons with disabilities, are not required to appear in person. If notices have already been issued, officials have been instructed to contact the electors over the phone and carry out the verification at their residences.

Sen's case will also fall in this category.

Sen has been sent a hearing notice as there were some spelling mistakes in his Enumeration form, local sources said.

Sen is an Indian citizen and has last voted in 2016, sources said. Sen is a resident of Shantiniketan in Bolpur, where his ancestral residence is located.

Earlier, EC had sent hearing notices to 31 lakh plus people who were unmapped. Hearings for SIR began in West Bengal on December 27.

Attacking Bengal SIR, AITC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed from a public rally on Tuesday that Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, holding whose hands Bengal became proud in the world forum, has received a hearing notice

“Sen, a renowned economist, who brought global recognition for our country has been served a hearing notice. Can you believe this? Abhishek said.

Abhishek also said ace cricketer Mohd Shami and renowned actor Dev have also received hearing notices.