Why Are the 2002 SIR Voter Lists Missing for Four Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The absence of the 2002 Special Intensive Revision voter lists for four Assembly constituencies in West Bengal raises concerns. As the Election Commission aims to conduct a new SIR, officials are working to locate the missing lists. If unavailable, a draft from 2003 will be used instead. Stay updated on this developing story!
Key Takeaways
- 2002 SIR voter lists for four Assembly constituencies are missing.
- These lists are essential for the upcoming electoral revisions.
- If not found, a 2003 draft list will be used.
- Officials are actively searching for the missing records.
- Transparency in the electoral process is crucial for public trust.
Kolkata, Aug 4 (NationPress) The 2002 Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter lists for four Assembly constituencies across two districts in West Bengal are currently unavailable, as confirmed by an official from the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office on Monday.
These 2002 SIR voter lists serve as the foundation for the new SIR process, which has already been completed in Bihar, a neighboring state of West Bengal.
The Assembly constituencies lacking their 2002 SIR voter lists include Murarai, Rampurhat, and Rajnagar in Birbhum district, as well as Kulpi in South 24 Parganas district.
Conversely, the 2002 SIR voter lists for over a hundred Assembly constituencies from districts such as Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Malda, Nadia, Howrah, Hooghly, West Midnapore, and Bankura have been made available on the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal's website.
The official stated that the SIR voter list from 23 years ago is expected to be preserved.
"The search for the 2002 SIR voter lists for those four Assembly constituencies is ongoing. The commission is hopeful that the list will be accessible soon. Should it remain unavailable, the draft voter list from 2003 will be published as an alternative," he mentioned.
It has been reported that Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the CEO of West Bengal, has directed district magistrates of Birbhum and South 24 Parganas, who also serve as district electoral officers, to expedite the retrieval of the missing 2002 SIR voter lists.
The last SIR in West Bengal was conducted two decades ago in 2002. Officials conveyed that the Election Commission is progressing towards conducting another round of SIR based on that voter list.
The process of conducting SIR commenced in Bihar, with the Election Commission later announcing that it would be executed in other states as well. Consequently, the ECO has started releasing the 2002 SIT voter lists, already available on the state's CEO website.
Thus far, the election panel has published the voter list for more than a hundred assembly constituencies across 11 districts. As per sources from the Election Commission, voter lists for all assembly constituencies in the remaining districts are expected to be published by this week.
Point of View
It is crucial to acknowledge the significance of preserving electoral records. The missing 2002 SIR voter lists in West Bengal highlight a larger issue within the electoral framework, emphasizing the need for efficient documentation and transparency in the electoral process across all states.
NationPress
10/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 2002 SIR voter lists?
The 2002 SIR voter lists are official records that were established during the Special Intensive Revision process, used to update and maintain accurate voter information.
Why are the lists missing?
The reason behind the missing lists is still under investigation by the Election Commission, which is currently searching for the records in the affected constituencies.
What will happen if the lists are not found?
If the 2002 SIR lists cannot be retrieved, the Election Commission plans to publish a draft voter list from 2003 as a substitute.
How is this issue being addressed?
Officials have been directed to expedite the search for the missing lists to ensure that the electoral process remains intact and transparent.
When was the last SIR conducted in West Bengal?
The last SIR in West Bengal was conducted two decades ago, in 2002, and the new revision aims to update the electoral rolls based on that.
