Election Commission defends 1.61 million West Bengal appeals citing SC rulings

The Election Commission of India has moved to defend the filing of approximately 1.61 million appeals by West Bengal state officers, citing directions from the Supreme Court in a formal affidavit submitted to the court.

According to the commission's submission, the appeals were filed by state officials acting in their statutory capacity rather than in any individual or discretionary role. The massive volume of filings has raised questions about the decision-making process underlying the action.

A separate petition currently before the courts seeks access to records that would clarify the chain of command and identify who authorised the state officers to file such a large number of appeals. The petition argues that transparency regarding the approval process is essential for public accountability.

The Election Commission's reliance on Supreme Court precedent suggests the filings were undertaken in compliance with judicial directives. However, the absence of clarity on implementation authorisation continues to fuel debate about administrative procedure and oversight in the conduct of electoral operations in West Bengal.