Voter List Row: No Voting Rights for Deleted Names, Supreme Court Refuses Relief
Voter List Row:The controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal continues to escalate. Through this process, more than 5 million names have reportedly been removed from the voter list. While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has termed it a conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to disturb electoral equations, the BJP has maintained that it is merely a routine procedural exercise.
Amid the ongoing dispute, the state government approached the Supreme Court of India seeking relief. However, the court refused to allow those whose names were deleted from the electoral rolls to vote.
The court was informed that as of April 11, a total of 3,435,174 appeals had been filed in West Bengal against the rejection or deletion of names from the voter list. Petitioners argued that voters should not be left without any remedy, especially with polling scheduled for April 23.
Voter List Row:Court Cites Administrative Burden
While hearing petitions related to voter list revisions, the Chief Justice observed that the court could not create a situation that would overburden appellate tribunals. He noted that another petition had also been filed seeking a stay on these appeals.
Representing the state government, TMC leader and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee argued that at least 1.6 million appeals had been filed and those individuals should be allowed to vote in the two-phase Assembly elections scheduled later this month.
Voter List Row:“People Are Looking to the Court for Justice”
Responding to this, Chief Justice Surya Kant said it was “not possible” to grant such permission, adding that allowing it would complicate voting rights for those involved.
Banerjee emphasized that people in Bengal were looking to the court for justice and wanted to exercise their right to vote. He claimed that around 3.4 million affected individuals were genuine voters and deserved relief. The TMC further argued that those whose appeals are accepted by appellate tribunals before April 22 should be allowed to cast their votes.
Voter List Row:Updates from the High Court
During the hearing, the Chief Justice stated that a communication had been received from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. According to the update, out of around 6,006,675 objections and claims, most have already been resolved, while decisions on approximately 1,823 cases are still pending due to technical reasons.
The High Court has also constituted a committee of three retired judges to frame procedures for the tribunals handling such cases.
Voter List Row:Security for Judicial Officers
The Supreme Court further directed the central government, the Election Commission, and the state government to ensure that the security of judicial officers is not withdrawn under any circumstances.
