West Bengal SIR: EC Confirms Domicile Certificates Are Valid Documents
The Election Commission has clarified that permanent resident certificates are valid documents for Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, addressing concerns raised by the state government.
Kolkata: The Election Commission of India has clarified that Permanent Resident or Domicile Certificates will be accepted as valid proof during West Bengal’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a communication sent to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, the poll panel stated that domicile certificates are included in the list of permissible documents under the SIR guidelines issued on October 27, 2025. However, it stressed that such certificates must be issued strictly in line with rules notified by the Government of West Bengal.
The clarification follows repeated objections raised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had questioned why domicile certificates were allegedly being rejected in Bengal despite being accepted during similar exercises elsewhere.
Separately, the Election Commission has instructed Booth Level Officers to ensure door-to-door distribution of voter slips strictly as per prescribed norms, with slips carrying complete and accurate voter details.
Analysis: The clarification is likely to ease concerns among voters facing documentation issues during the revision process. Clear communication on acceptable documents could help reduce confusion at the booth level and prevent avoidable exclusion as the SIR progresses. This assessment reflects analytical opinion; all factual details above are drawn from the original content.