The WBCS Executive Officers’ Association on Monday strongly refuted allegations that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) or Assistant EROs were responsible for a large number of voter names being marked as ‘under adjudication’, asserting that the situation arose due to the actions of micro-observers and roll observers appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The rebuttal came a day after the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) issued a clarification through a social media post, explaining the circumstances under which several entries in the electoral roll were shown as pending adjudication.
“It is clarified that all cases under consideration of Hon’ble judicial officers have been marked as ‘under adjudication’ in the Electoral Roll published on February 28. The judicial officers are working under the guidance of the Calcutta High Court as per the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the CEO office had posted on its X handle.
“It will be pertinent to mention that certain names have been marked as under adjudication since the concerned ERO/ AEROs did not decide them after hearing. As a result, those names being pending were sent for adjudication by judicial officers as per order of the Hon’ble apex court,” the post read.
Reacting sharply to the statement, the WBCS Executive Officers’ Association termed the CEO’s social media post “completely untrue” and said it unfairly shifted responsibility onto officers who were discharging their duties in accordance with prescribed procedures.
In a counter-post on social media, the Association said that EROs and Assistant EROs had been functioning with due diligence, conducting hearings, uploading relevant documents, and passing reasoned orders within the stipulated time frame.
It maintained that the officers had complied with all procedural requirements during the revision of electoral rolls.