The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission (EC), accusing it of subjecting elderly, ailing citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to undue hardship by allegedly compelling them to attend hearings at Special Intensive Revision (SIR) camps located far from their residences. The party termed the process “inhuman” and demanded immediate corrective measures, including home-based hearings and greater transparency in the categorisation of voters summoned for verification.

The allegations were made as hearings for so-called “unmapped” electors under the SIR exercise began on December 27. According to the TMC, thousands of voters—many of them senior citizens, chronically ill individuals, and persons with disabilities—have been asked to physically report to designated camps to resolve discrepancies in their enumeration forms, despite their limited mobility and health constraints.

Addressing a press conference, TMC Member of Parliament Partha Bhowmik accused the EC of ignoring the practical difficulties faced by vulnerable sections of society. He claimed that elderly and ailing individuals had been categorised as “unmapped” due to minor discrepancies in their voter records and were now being summoned to camps instead of being verified at home.

“This is nothing short of torture,” Bhowmik said. “The Election Commission routinely sends polling personnel to the homes of elderly voters during elections because of their mobility issues. Why could the same humane procedure not be followed during this verification exercise?” he asked, questioning what he described as a sudden and inexplicable departure from established practice.

Bhowmik asserted that TMC leaders had repeatedly raised this concern during meetings with the Election Commission, urging it to adopt a more compassionate and practical approach. However, he alleged that the party’s objections and suggestions were ignored. “We had flagged this issue clearly and repeatedly, but the EC has chosen not to listen. We strongly condemn this behaviour,” he said.

The criticism was echoed by senior TMC leader and state minister Sashi Panja, who described the Election Commission’s approach as “inhuman” and insensitive to the realities faced by vulnerable voters. Panja said that elderly citizens, people suffering from serious ailments, and differently abled individuals were finding it extremely difficult to reach hearing camps at fixed dates and times, often travelling long distances under physical strain.

“Elderly persons, ailing people and those with disabilities are facing immense hardship in attending these hearings,” Panja said. “The EC must immediately make arrangements for hearings to be conducted at their homes. The age limit for availing such a facility should be lowered to 85 years so that more senior citizens can benefit from it.”

She argued that the burden of verification should not be placed on voters who are least equipped to travel and wait at camps. According to Panja, the Commission’s insistence on physical presence at designated centres undermines the very principle of inclusive and accessible elections.

Beyond the issue of logistics and accessibility, the TMC also raised questions about the scale and transparency of the SIR exercise. Panja pointed out that there were reports suggesting that as many as 1.36 crore people could be called for hearings under the revision process. She said this figure raised serious concerns, especially since the Election Commission had not clearly explained why such a large number of voters were excluded from the provisional voters’ list in the first place.

“There is a logical discrepancy here,” Panja said. “The EC claims to have data, yet it has not clearly spelt out on what grounds such a massive number of voters have been left out of the provisional list. People deserve clarity, not confusion.”

The party demanded that the Election Commission publish a detailed break-up of the categories under which voters were being called for hearings. According to TMC leaders, such transparency is essential to ensure that the revision process does not arbitrarily or disproportionately affect specific groups, particularly the elderly, the sick, and persons with disabilities.

“The EC must make public the categories and criteria used to identify people for hearings,” Bhowmik said. “Without this information, there is a serious risk of mistrust and fear among voters, many of whom are already anxious about the status of their names on the electoral rolls.”

The SIR exercise is intended to update and clean electoral rolls by identifying discrepancies, duplications, and inaccuracies. However, the TMC contends that the manner in which it is being implemented has caused unnecessary distress. Party leaders argued that while verification is important, it must not come at the cost of voter dignity or accessibility.

TMC leaders also warned that compelling vulnerable voters to attend camps could lead to disenfranchisement if they are unable to comply due to health or mobility issues. “If an elderly or disabled person cannot physically reach a camp, does that mean they risk losing their right to vote?” Panja asked. “That would be unacceptable in a democracy.”

The party reiterated that alternatives such as home visits, mobile verification teams, or flexible hearing schedules could easily address the issue. They cited past practices where election officials conducted home verification for senior citizens and voters with disabilities, arguing that the infrastructure and precedent already exist.

As of now, the Election Commission has not publicly responded to the TMC’s allegations. However, the issue is likely to intensify political debate around the SIR process, particularly in states where large-scale voter verification exercises are underway. Opposition parties have increasingly voiced concerns that administrative procedures, if not handled sensitively, could discourage voter participation.

For the TMC, the matter goes beyond administrative inconvenience. The party framed the issue as one of rights and dignity, insisting that the electoral process must remain inclusive and accessible to all citizens, regardless of age or physical condition.

“The right to vote is fundamental,” Bhowmik said. “Any process that makes it harder for the most vulnerable citizens to exercise that right must be re-examined and corrected immediately.”

As hearings for “unmapped” electors continue, pressure is mounting on the Election Commission to clarify its procedures, release detailed data, and consider alternative verification mechanisms. Whether the poll panel will respond to the demands for greater transparency and home-based hearings remains to be seen, but the controversy has already cast a spotlight on the human impact of large-scale electoral revisions.