A Supreme Court lawyer is among thousands struck off the electoral rolls in Bengal for reasons that remain unclear.
Born and raised in south Calcutta, Gaurav Ghosh, 36, has been a voter in Rashbehari since 2009. Now based in Delhi, he has never missed an election in Bengal, travelling back to the city each time to cast his vote.
This time, his name has been “deleted”.
Ghosh has filed an online appeal but said he has “grave doubts” about whether all appeals can be examined before polling, given the limited time.
Excerpts from his conversation with Metro:
I am shocked and angry at what has happened. When I was served an SIR hearing notice, I exercised due diligence and submitted every document I had in my possession.
I even submitted my passport, yet my name has been removed.
I am keen to vote in the Assembly elections, but I am unsure about the appeals process. I do not know whether the honourable judges will be able to examine all the appeals by the time of polling. The time available is very short.
When I attended the hearing, I was not given any acknowledgement receipt for the documents I submitted. I carried a photocopy of the hearing notice and asked those conducting the hearing to sign it, but they did not.
They kept saying that everything would be fine. But that has clearly not been the case.
I am surprised that I was called to a hearing but not allowed to speak. Then my name was put under adjudication, yet I had no opportunity to present my case.
Now my name has been deleted, and I still do not know if I will be heard. I have filed an online appeal, and all I have is a receipt confirming submission of my appeal.
This violates the principle of natural justice. My name was struck off the electoral rolls without me being heard or allowed to present my argument.
Since 2009, I have voted in every Assembly and Lok Sabha election. I travelled to Calcutta each time to vote.
I also came to Calcutta when I was served the hearing notice. I fulfilled my duty as a law-abiding citizen — I attended the hearing and submitted documents.
Yet my right to vote has been taken away despite complying with everything that was asked of me.
