Kolkata, Dec 11 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal to solely hold hearings regarding claims and objections during the second phase of the three-part Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at the offices of the District Magistrates, who also serve as the District Electoral Officers.

According to sources within the CEO's office, the Commission has mandated that these hearings must not take place at block development offices or panchayat offices under any circumstances.

Furthermore, the ECI has made it compulsory for these hearings to be webcast, with the recordings to be preserved. In compliance with the ECI's directives, all district magistrates and district electoral officers have been instructed to ensure that necessary arrangements are made accordingly, confirmed sources.

The specially appointed roll observers for the state have received advisories from the Commission to remain vigilant to guarantee that hearings are conducted strictly at the District Magistrates' offices.

The deadline for the submission and digitization of enumeration forms is Thursday. The draft voters' list is set to be released on December 16, marking the conclusion of the first phase of the three-stage SIR process in the state.

Post the release of the draft voters' list, the second phase will commence, involving the submission of claims and objections, along with the notice phase — which includes issuing, hearing, verifying, and deciding on enumeration forms, as well as resolving claims and objections. This will be managed concurrently by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).

Following the completion of the second stage, the third and final phase will involve the publication of the final electoral roll. The ECI is anticipated to announce the dates for the vital Assembly elections soon after the final electoral roll is released.

The ECI had previously expressed strong disappointment regarding the lack of proposals from district magistrates and DEOs in identifying private housing complexes with multiple high-rise towers suitable for setting up polling booths for the forthcoming Assembly elections scheduled next year.

The Commission has also instructed that, following the draft publication of the Electoral Roll on December 16, all DEOs must conduct an immediate survey of high-rise buildings, group housing societies, resident welfare association (RWA) colonies, slums, and gated communities with a minimum of 250 houses or 500 voters. They are to provide details about available ground floor rooms and identify suitable locations for polling stations within these premises.