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The Election Commission of India has clarified that the Permanent Resident Certificate can be used as a valid document during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. This clarification comes as officials continue updating and verifying voter lists across the State.

In a letter sent to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the Commission explained that domicile or Permanent Resident Certificates issued in the State are legally valid. It said these certificates are provided according to a State government order dated November 2, 1999, and the rules issued later.

The Commission stated that these documents can be accepted as proof of eligibility while checking voter details. However, it also stressed that only certificates issued by authorised officials should be considered valid.

To ensure proper verification, the Commission directed Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) to accept Permanent Resident Certificates only from designated authorities. These include the District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer, and the Collector of Kolkata.

It further said that the certificates must be issued strictly following the guidelines set by the State government. Any document not issued according to these rules should not be accepted.

The Election Commission said these steps are meant to maintain accuracy and transparency in the electoral roll revision process. By allowing valid documents and setting clear rules, the Commission aims to ensure that only eligible residents are included in the voter list.

The Special Intensive Revision is being carried out to update records, remove errors, and ensure that all eligible citizens are properly registered to vote.