1. A TMC delegation, including five Parliamentarians, engaged with ECI officials to discuss Aadhaar deactivation concerns in West Bengal.
2. Led by Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, the delegation highlighted the deactivation of thousands of Aadhaar cards in the state without proper legal procedures.
3. The delegation urged the ECI to ensure that affected individuals are not denied their voting rights in the upcoming general elections.
Kolkata, Feb 27: A delegation of five Parliamentarians from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) met with top officials at the Election Commission of India (ECI) to address concerns regarding the deactivation of Aadhaar numbers in West Bengal and to ensure that affected individuals are not barred from voting in the upcoming general elections.
During the meeting, led by Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, the delegation emphasized that thousands of Aadhaar cards in West Bengal had been deactivated or omitted without due process of law.
They highlighted instances where citizens had received notices about the deactivation of their Aadhaar numbers without any field inquiry or opportunity for a personal hearing, which they deemed illegal.
The EC assured the delegation that voters would not be prevented from exercising their right to vote solely based on Aadhaar status.
They clarified that individuals possessing other forms of identification, such as voter cards or ration cards, would not be hindered from casting their votes.
In a memorandum submitted to the EC, the TMC cited specific instances where citizens had received notices of Aadhaar deactivation without any field inquiry or personal hearing, in violation of Aadhaar regulations and principles of natural justice.
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They expressed concern that the names of Aadhaar card holders might be deleted from the electoral roll due to illegal deactivation, potentially disenfranchising affected individuals.
Prasanna S, an advocate on record in the Supreme Court, emphasized that field inquiries should not be considered optional under Aadhaar regulations.
He stated that while the regulations use the term “may,” such inquiries should be viewed as mandatory to ensure adherence to due process.
Despite the delegation’s efforts to address concerns about Aadhaar deactivation, they did not inquire about the EC’s engagement with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) regarding this issue.
The memorandum submitted by the TMC underscores the importance of protecting the voting rights of all citizens and ensuring compliance with legal procedures in matters concerning Aadhaar deactivation.
