ECI’s Complaint Redressal Mechanism for Assembly Polls 2016

In view of the upcoming assembly polls 2016, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued instruction to provide a Complaint Redressal Mechanism in all the five poll bound states.

The states which are going to polls are: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal and Puducherry.

The main purpose of this IT platform is to manage the complaints being received through call centres or telephone or online or fax or post or paper complaints or in person. These complaints are to be managed in integrated way and in a time bound manner.

The IT platform will also inform the complainants about the status of receipt and disposal of complaints.

Here is the list of steps undertaken by the Election Commission of India for the states going to polls:

For Assam:

There are two ways to receive the complaints. One is the toll free number 1950 and second is lodge complaint online though application available. The application is called 'SAMADHAN' and it is available at district websites with URL http://election.cloudapp.net/assam-samadhan and at CEO website www.ceoassam.nic.in. Third way is use of mobile application which is available on Google Play Store as SAMADHAN [ASSAM].

People can of course lodge complaints in physical copies in person or thorough post or fax and can still get SMS or view status of complaints if they wish to.

For Kerala:

e- Pariharam has been lodged in Kerala to facilitate lodging complaints online. Complainants can also visit Akshaya Centres (CSC) and use helpline numbers.

Complainants will receive SMS alerts while lodging as well as at the time of disposal of complaints. Photos/videos can be uploaded as part of complaints. The URL of website is: http://e-pariharam.kerala.gov.in

For Tamil Nadu:

In Tamil Nadu, apart from paper, phone, e-mails, online modes of complaint receipt, the complaints are also being received through Facebook, twitter etc.

The option for lodging online complaint is available on website of CEO, Tamil Nadu: http://www.elections.tn.gov.in/

For West Bengal:

In West Bengal the IT platform is available at the URL: http://election.cloudapp.net/wb-samadhan.

The App is also available in the form of mobile App at Google Play Store: SAMADHAN [WEST BENGAL].

The disposal period of complaints received has been prescribed as 24 hrs in general, and ½ hour on poll day.

For Puducherry:

CEO, Puducherry has established 24x7 helpline call centre with 5 dedicated trunk lines under supervision of an officer of Tehsildar level.

Complaints are also being received through SMS, Whatsapp (8903331950), e-mail etc. The online complaints registering mechanism is also available for the use of public.

Through these Complaint Redressal Mechanisms, the Election Commission of India ensures and will continue to ensure that complaints at all level are properly addressed and timely redressed and the entire election process is made smooth, hassle free, transparent and effective.