KOLKATA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued a hearing notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
The hearing has been scheduled on 16 January at his residence. As Amartya currently resides in the US, any of his relatives may appear for the hearing.
On Wednesday, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) handed over the notice to Amartya’s relatives at his ‘Pratichi’ residence in Bolpur, Shantiniketan in Birbhum district.
BLO Sombrata Mukherjee will go to Amartya’s residence at around 12 noon on 16 January to verify ‘discrepancies’ related to his electoral form.
Amartya's relative Shantavanu Sen has accepted the notice after taking opinions from their lawyer. His family members and relatives alleged that the notice has been served just to harass him.
The ECI said it prepared a hearing notice for the Nobel laureate economist as part of the SIR exercise of the voter list has been sent to his Bolpur residence today.
“A hearing notice was generated for Amartya Sen as his age difference with his mother was less than 15 according to the enumeration form.
“There must have been some discrepancies. The EC won’t send him a notice unnecessarily. He should cooperate. He is more than 90 years old. The EC has provisions for those citizens who are above 85 years,” the officer said.
“Any voter facing a problem like him would have to submit any of the 13 documents specified by the Commission.”
On Tuesday, during a TMC rally in Rampurhat, national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee cited SIR notice being served to Amartya and alleged that the ECI and the BJP were targeting prominent personalities from Bengal, including actor Dev and cricketer Mohammad Shami.
Slamming both the BJP and the ECI on SIR issue the Trinamool Congress leadership said, “The electoral roll revision process is a farce and that’s why it can’t even spare an internationally recognised academics who has brought Nobel award for our country.”
