Telangana: ECI directs BLOs to collect documents from electors issued notices during SIR
Hyderabad, Oct 1 (TNT): The Election Commission has directed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to visit the homes of electors who have been issued notices during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, collect the required documents and upload them on the ECI Net platform for consideration by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO).
As per the guidelines issued for the press briefing on Thursday, electors who receive notices need not be called to the ERO/AERO office for hearings.
Hearings will be held only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO/AERO, and preferably online through convenient communication modes.
The software has been updated and enabled to facilitate the process. Electors may also authorise any adult member of their family to attend a hearing on their behalf, if required.
The EROs have been instructed to conduct local enquiries and take decisions in cases involving genuine electors who do not possess the required documents.
The Election Commission has also called for adequate helpdesks and special camps, depending on local requirements, to assist electors living in night shelters, labourers, poor people and homeless persons.
The declaration form attached to Form-6 will be required only during the SIR period. It should not be insisted upon during the non-SIR period, the guidelines stated.
Speaking orders need to be issued only in cases where the ERO/AERO finds an elector ineligible. Special care must also be taken while deciding bulk submissions of Form-7, which is used for objections to proposed inclusions or deletions in the electoral roll.
To ensure transparency, the daily status of notices disposed of will be displayed on the notice boards of EROs and shared with political parties and the media.
Lists of claims and objections received under Forms 9, 10, 11, 11A and 11B will also be prepared and displayed on notice boards every working day.
All claims and objections will be published on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website to enable citizens to examine the lists and file objections, if any.
TNT LTS
