ECI to deploy central government officers as electoral roll micro observers in Bengal

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to engage Central government officers (Group “B” or above) and equivalent officers from central PSUs, including nationalised banks, as Electoral Roll Micro Observers across Bengal during the hearing period of the Bengal SIR, until the final electoral rolls are published by February 16.

A top official of the West Bengal CEO’s office told ET that the exact number of micro-observers is being decided. The WB-CEO’s office will prepare a database of the officers, organise training and deploy them in different constituencies, EC sources said.

These micro-observers will check the entries in Enumeration Forms digitised by BLOs, compare the electoral roll with death and birth registers/data, check the documents submitted by electors to whom notices have been issued by ERO/AERO, check the documents submitted by electors with their claims and objections, and observe hearing proceedings to identify any deviations or discrepancies in the preparation or revision of the electoral roll, as per the ECI. “They will be deployed till the final roll is released,” EC sources said.


“The Micro Observers will also assist the Electoral Roll Observers or Special Electoral Roll Observers in statistical analysis of various features of the electoral rolls,” EC sources said. The micro-observers will submit their findings to the CEO or the Electoral Roll Observers/Special Electoral Roll Observers.
These Electoral Roll Micro Observers will be “under deemed deputation, discipline and control of the CEO during the period of their engagement”.

It has been instructed by the ECI in the letter that the DEOs, who are also the District Magistrates, will provide logistical support and security to the Electoral Roll Micro Observers.

“The Electoral Roll Micro Observers shall be engaged from the date of draft publication till the final publication of electoral rolls,” the letter said. The Election Commission has decided that “the Electoral Roll Micro Observers shall be given a consolidated remuneration for the period of their engagement, which shall be drawn from their parent cadre”.