Permanent Resident Certificate Valid for Electoral Roll Revision in West Bengal: EC

The Election Commission has clarified that the Permanent Resident Certificate is an admissible document for determining eligibility during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state, the Commission noted that domicile or Permanent Resident Certificates in West Bengal are issued under a state government letter dated November 2, 1999, along with subsequent related orders.

The Commission directed that Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, who are statutory authorities under the Representation of the People Act, must accept only those Permanent Resident Certificates that are issued by duly designated authorities. These include the District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer, and the Collector of Kolkata.

It was further emphasised that such certificates must strictly comply with the guidelines formally notified by the state government. The Commission also instructed that these directions be circulated to all concerned officers to ensure strict adherence during the revision process.