Huge surge in domicile certificate applications at KMC amid SIR; over 18,600 requests received
Kolkata (PTI): The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has received more than 18,600 applications for domicile certificates in the past one-and-a-half months, an unprecedented spike linked to the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, officials said on Monday.
Cumulative figures available till February 6 show that 18,605 applications were submitted, far exceeding the usual monthly average of fewer than 200 requests, sources in the civic body said.
Officials and Trinamool Congress councillors said the demand for resident certificates has "shot up sharply" since the revision process began, as the document has emerged as a key proof of residence for voters whose names were either flagged or left out during the verification exercise.
Of the total applications received, 18,482 have already been forwarded to the Kolkata Police for field verification, officials said.
Police have submitted 16,555 enquiry reports so far, based on which 14,590 domicile certificates have been issued from KMC offices, while 1,287 applications were rejected following adverse verification reports, they added.
The civic body had opened dedicated counters at its headquarters and across borough offices following instructions from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure residents do not face difficulties in securing required documentation during the revision process.
A member of the KMC mayor-in-council said the large volume of applications over such a short period has taken officials by surprise, describing the trend as "unprecedented" compared to routine demand patterns.
Applications received by the civic body are routed to the Kolkata sector collector's office and verified through police checks before a WBCS-rank officer grants final approval for issuance of the certificates.
Officials said that, at present, applications are being accepted primarily for requirements linked to the SIR exercise.
The surge comes amid heightened political activity around the electoral roll revision. Earlier, addressing a meeting of Trinamool Congress booth-level agents, Banerjee had accused the Centre and the Election Commission of bias in the SIR process and asked party workers to assist voters facing scrutiny.
The officials said the push to expedite certificate issuance gathered pace after Mayor Firhad Hakim announced that the process would be streamlined and accelerated to help residents produce domicile proof during hearings conducted by election authorities.
Previously, education-related domicile certificates were issued from Kolkata's Town Hall, while councillors provided address-related residency attestations.
However, there have been allegations that the Chief Electoral Officer's office is not accepting certificates issued by councillors during the ongoing revision, prompting the KMC to formalise a centralised application and verification mechanism.
Under the new arrangement, applicants must submit requests at their respective borough offices, which are then routed to the KMC headquarters for scrutiny before the final certificate is issued from the borough level.
The move is also aimed at assisting voters whose names did not appear in the initial mapping phase of the SIR exercise.
According to figures cited by ruling party leaders earlier, nearly six lakh names were excluded from draft rolls across 11 Kolkata Assembly segments.
Municipal authorities said detailed guidelines have been circulated to councillors to help residents with documentation requirements such as Aadhaar cards and rent receipts, adding that demand for domicile certificates is likely to remain elevated as the revision process progresses.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
