In a rare display of professional integrity and strict adherence to protocol, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in West Bengal’s Katwa has made headlines for serving official hearing notices to his wife and himself.
Debshankar Chattopadhyay, who serves as the BLO for Booth No. 165, proved that the law remains impartial even within the walls of one’s home. Mr. Chattopadhyay, a school teacher by profession, resides in the Chowrangee area of Katwa’s Ward 10 while working at a primary school in Ketugram.
Identifying the Discrepancies
The situation arose during a routine verification of voter data. The Election Commission’s system flagged “logical discrepancies” in the records of both Mr. Chattopadhyay and his wife, Anindita Chowdhury.
For Mr. Chattopadhyay: A spelling error was identified in his father’s surname in the official records.
For Mrs. Chowdhury: The system flagged a significant age gap of 50 years between her and her father (originally from Nakashipara, Nadia), which required formal verification.
Integrity Over Influence
As soon as the notices appeared on the Election Commission’s official app, Mr. Chattopadhyay did not hesitate to perform his duty. He printed the notices and served them to his wife and himself, treating his own family no differently than any other citizen under his jurisdiction.
“As a BLO, I am duty-bound to follow the Election Commission’s regulations,” Mr. Chattopadhyay stated. “My family does not get special treatment. In the eyes of the law, everyone is equal.”
His wife, Anindita, expressed surprise but supported her husband’s decision. “This is his professional responsibility. Whatever he has done is strictly by the book,” she remarked.
Administrative Praise
The incident has garnered significant respect within the local administration. Katwa Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Anirban Bose lauded the move, noting that being a BLO does not exempt one from the rules.
The couple will now have to stand in line and participate in the hearing process alongside other residents to rectify their voter information, setting a powerful example of transparency in public service.
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