The clarification came after the Chief Electoral Officer asked for clarity on whether documents related to the two housing schemes could be considered valid during SIR hearings.
File Photo: IANS
The Election Commission has informed the Chief Electoral officer of West Bengal Manoj Kumar Agarwal that documents issued under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the state’s Banglar Bari will not be accepted as valid documents during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
The clarification came after the Chief Electoral Officer asked for clarity on whether documents related to the two housing schemes could be considered valid during SIR hearings.
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In its notice, dated 27 October 2025, the commission had stated that government-approved house or land certificates would be accepted as valid documents.
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This led to confusion, with many assuming that approval letters or financial assistance documents under PMAY and Banglar Bari would suffice for the revision process following which several individuals produced such documents during hearings.
To clear the confusion, Agarwal wrote to the commission’s headquarters in New Delhi on 21 January seeking clarification.
The commission’s response, received on Monday, categorically stated that documents related to financial assistance under the two housing schemes are not acceptable for SIR purposes.
In its explanation to the CEO, the commission cited a 9 February order of the Supreme Court, which directed that individuals receiving SIR notices must rely only on the documents specified in the commission’s SIR notification.
Documents listed in the commission’s 19 January guidelines will also be considered valid.
Although the notification mentions government-issued land or house certificates, but does not include financial sanction letters issued under PMAY or Banglar Bari.
The SIR hearings in the state have concluded, and document verification is currently underway. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on 28 February.
Officials indicated that individuals who submitted documents related to the two housing schemes during hearings may be asked to furnish alternative valid documents.
The ECI has maintained a strict stance in preparing the final voter list, warning that action will be taken against responsible officials if the name of any foreign national is found on the rolls.
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