Taking continuous feedback from political parties under SIR: Purushottam

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun

 The chief electoral officer BVRC Purushottam has said that the Election Commission is taking continuous feedback from political parties regarding the ongoing process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the State.

Interacting with the media persons at the State secretariat on Thursday, the CEO said that regular meetings are being held by the electoral registration officers (ERO) at the assembly level, the district election officer (DEO) at the district level and at his level in the State.

 He said that the officers deputed by the EC are conducting frequent field visits to hear notices. The CEO categorically stated that necessary instructions have been issued to the officers to ensure that voters do not face any inconvenience during the process of hearing of the notices. He informed that DEOs in all districts have been instructed to visit the homes of elderly voters (above 65 years of age) and those with disabilities to conduct hearings on the notices issued to them. The CEO stated that special care will be taken to ensure that elderly and disabled voters do not have to visit the polling booth unnecessarily in cases of discrepant notices.

Purushottam informed that more than 20.27 lakh notices have so far been delivered to the voters as against a total of 24.30 lakh notices during the ongoing second phase of the SIR in the State. He informed that more than 57,000 applications under Form VI and 22,668 under Form VII have been received so far in the ongoing claims and objections phase of the SIR from July 14 to August 5 in the State. The CEO added that 26,145 applications under Form VIII have also been received in the current phase of the SIR.

The additional CEO VK Jogdande and assistant CEO Mastu Das accompanied the CEO in the press conference.