Maharashtra CEO Seeks ECINet Changes, More Discretion For EROs In SIR Process

Amid the ongoing row over the functioning of the Election Commission, Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has written to the poll panel seeking four changes in the ECINet software in the notice phase of the SIR. The CEO has echoed the demands earlier made by the two Election Commissioners regarding ECINet and the role of EROs, as reported by The Indian Express last week. Maharashtra is currently in the notice phase of the SIR. CEO S Chockalingam, NDTV has learnt, has written to the EC seeking greater discretion for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in handling cases in the notice phase. The CEO has demanded that EROs be allowed to decide cases involving "logical discrepancies" after conducting a hearing. The same demand for greater discretion for EROs had earlier been flagged by the two Election Commissioners - Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.