After hearing notice row, Amartya Sen included in final voter list as ‘Overseas Indian’

After weeks of political controversy and public debate, Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen’s name has been included in the final Special Summary Revision (SIR) voter list in West Bengal, though he has been identified as an “Overseas Indian” in the document. The development follows intense criticism of the Election Commission after it issued a hearing notice to the Bharat Ratna awardee during the revision process, triggering widespread political reactions and speculation over whether his name would remain on the rolls.

The controversy began when Sen, who resides in Boston but remains an Indian citizen, received a notice during the SIR process despite submitting his enumeration form within the stipulated time. Allegations surfaced that notices were being issued even for minor discrepancies. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee strongly criticised the move, questioning why a Nobel laureate would be subjected to such scrutiny and calling it harassment.

Amid mounting pressure, Election Commission officials travelled to Sen’s Santiniketan residence, ‘Pratichi,’ to conduct a hearing. During the visit, officials were provided with documents including the 2002 voter list records, Sen’s passport, Aadhaar card, and the death certificate of his late mother, Amita Sen. The Commission later clarified its position, stating that the notice was part of the verification process under SIR.

The SIR exercise in West Bengal began in the first week of November last year and was followed by hearings across districts. Sen himself expressed concern from Boston, saying the process appeared rushed and that insufficient time to submit documents could be unfair to voters and democracy. With the publication of the final list confirming his inclusion, uncertainty surrounding his voter status has ended, bringing relief to his family and close associates.