Electoral Roll Observer Conducts First Official Visit to Review SIR Preparedness in Mangan District

Secretary, Planning & Development Department, Government of Sikkim, cum Electoral Roll Observer for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 for Mangan District, Mr Tushar G. Nikhare, conducted his first official visit to Mangan District today to review the progress of the electoral roll revision and assess the preparedness of the district election machinery for the ensuing hearing process. The review meeting was held in the conference room of DC Office, District Administrative Centre (DAC), Pentok, Mangan.

During the meeting, DC-cum-District Election Officer (DEO) Mangan Mr Anant Jain, briefed the Electoral Roll Observer on the district’s Special Intensive Revision data and the overall progress of the revision exercise. The meeting was attended by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and Additional Assistant Electoral Registration Officers of the district, Joint Secretary Election Mr Karma Sherpa, along with a representative of Citizen Action Party, a recognised political party of Sikkim.

The discussions focused on the hearing process to be undertaken as part of the Special Intensive Revision. The Electoral Roll Observer directed the officers to coordinate closely and clear all procedural doubts to ensure that the hearings are conducted smoothly, transparently and in strict adherence to the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. He advised the officers to complete the hearing process well ahead of the stipulated deadline.

Emphasising the need for clarity in roles and responsibilities, Mr Nikhare instructed the officers to exercise due diligence at every stage of the process, provide every citizen with a fair opportunity to be heard and maintain proper documentation of all proceedings. He also urged the officers to utilise the available time judiciously and ensure detailed records of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities carried out across the district are maintained as well.

To strengthen the preparedness of the election machinery, various case scenarios relating to the hearing process were deliberated upon during the meeting. The discussions helped address the queries of the EROs, AEROs and Additional Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, enabling them to gain clarity on the prescribed procedures and ensure their uniform implementation throughout the district.

The Electoral Roll Observer appreciated the preparedness of the district and shared that he would attend the hearing process in his subsequent visits to the district.