People wait at a centre during hearings under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, in Nadia, West Bengal, Monday on January 5, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Electors away from West Bengal for the purpose of study, employment in the private sector, or hospitalisation are exempt from personally appearing in hearings of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to a notice issued by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal on Thursday (January 8, 2026).
The concerned electors may send any authorized family member with proof of relation with the elector and submit any of the necessary documents on their behalf, the notice further reads.
A similar notice detailing the same procedure has also been issued for electors temporarily residing abroad for study, work or hospitalisation, as well as for government employees, military/paramilitary personnel, and PSU employees who have been or will be called for hearings.
Currently hearings are being held for electors who are unmapped to the 2002 electoral roll or have logical discrepancies.
This development unfolds days after a notice for hearing was generated by the Election Commission for Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on account of “logical discrepancies”. Mr. Sen currently resides abroad.
Additionally, according to a high-ranking official in the CEO’s office, the Election Commission is also likely to enable remote hearings for migrant workers, through an upcoming online portal for submission and verification of documents.
In the portal, the elector can log in through their unique EPIC number and find their hearing notice online. They will be able to upload their documents, which will subsequently be verified by the concerned Assistant Electoral Officer, Electoral Registration Officer and District Election Officer.
According to the West Bengal government, there are currently around 22 lakh out-migrants from the State in different parts of the country.
Published – January 09, 2026 04:12 am IST
