Birth Before Birth Certificate? EC Raises Alarm Over False Voter Information During SIR

Baranagar:

The scrutiny of documents submitted by voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings is currently underway, and the Election Commission has set a deadline of February 21 to complete the verification process. According to sources in the state Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office, the Commission has been taken aback by the nature of several documents submitted by voters.

EC Flags Birth Before Birth Certificate Case in West Bengal During SIR

In many cases, essential details such as date of birth have not been mentioned, while in some instances, birth certificates submitted as proof appear to have been registered even before the date of birth. One such case has been reported from the Baranagar Assembly constituency in West Bengal, where a voter submitted a birth certificate showing the date of birth as March 6, 1993, but the registration date on the certificate is March 4, 1993—two days prior to the birth. The Commission has raised serious questions over how a birth certificate could be issued before a person was born.When the SIR process began, the enumeration form issued by the Election Commission clearly stated that providing false information would invite legal action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act. In line with this, the Commission has issued written instructions to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to initiate legal action against the individual involved in the Baranagar case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EV082PClLA

Voters' Birth Certificate Under Scanner

In another instance from Part No. 55 of the Memari Assembly segment in Purba Bardhaman district, a voter mentioned the date of birth as “xx/xx/1987” in the enumeration form. The Commission has viewed this as concealment or submission of incorrect information and has again directed the ERO in writing to take legal action.A senior Election Commission official stated that several such cases of incorrect or misleading information have surfaced, significantly delaying the scrutiny process and causing difficulties for officials involved. The commission has issued a stern warning, making it clear that strict action will be taken against anyone found submitting false information or involved in such irregularities.