The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed 294 senior micro-observers, one for each assembly constituency in West Bengal, to oversee the ongoing hearings related to claims and objections on the draft electoral rolls.
These senior micro-observers have been assigned in addition to the 6,600 micro-observers previously appointed by the Commission to monitor the hearing sessions. According to sources from the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office, there is a clear distinction in roles and hierarchy between micro-observers and senior micro-observers.
While a micro-observer is responsible for supervising a single hearing centre, a senior micro-observer oversees all hearing centres within a specific assembly constituency. This layered monitoring mechanism aims to ensure thorough and effective supervision of the electoral roll finalisation process.
The micro-observers are generally selected from Group B and some Group A officers, drawn from central government employees, central public sector undertakings (PSUs), or public sector banks (PSBs). Senior micro-observers, on the other hand, are exclusively from Group A categories and also come from similar central government and PSU backgrounds.
Notably, the current micro-observers are appointed from within West Bengal, whereas senior micro-observers have been brought in from neighbouring states Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand. A source from the CEO’s office stated, “West Bengal CEO Manoj Kumar Agrawal recently wrote to his counterparts in Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand requesting nominations for senior micro-observers. The selected officers from these states will assume their duties in West Bengal from 26 January and remain until the hearings conclude.”
The deadline to complete all hearing sessions is set for 7 February, with the final electoral roll publication scheduled for 14 February. However, the Election Commission has indicated that these deadlines may be extended if necessary.
Once the final electoral roll is published, the Commission is expected to announce the dates for the crucial West Bengal assembly elections, slated to take place later this year.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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