Residential certificates issued after July 2025 under EC's scanner amid SIR

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has placed residential certificates issued by the West Bengal government under strict surveillance during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. In a recent directive, the commission clarified that residency certificates issued after July 2025 will undergo rigorous verification during the hearing of claims and objections. This move aims to ensure that only genuine, permanent residents are included in the electoral roll before the upcoming Assembly elections.

According to sources in the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office, District Magistrates and District Election Officers have been instructed to scrutinize the authenticity of documents submitted by "unmapped" voters. These are individuals who have no direct or familial link to the 2002 electoral records. The verification will focus on two aspects: confirming if the certificates are physically genuine and ensuring they were issued to legally eligible residents following proper background checks.

The verification process is set to happen at two levels: first by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and subsequently reviewed by the District Election Officer. Micro-observers appointed by the ECI will also maintain a close watch during hearing sessions to report any suspicious cases. This high level of scrutiny follows numerous complaints from opposition parties alleging that residency certificates were issued by the state administration without adequate verification of the applicants' backgrounds.