Supreme Court orders EC to detail pending electoral roll appeals in Bengal

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued directions on Tuesday asking the Election Commission to file a detailed reply on the status of tribunal appeals arising from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted in West Bengal. The court observed that such appeals concerning electoral roll modifications require time-bound resolution.

The bench instructed the poll panel to furnish segregated data specifying the number of appeals pending before tribunals, categorized separately for cases filed by voters excluded from rolls, those included, and cross-appeals. The court also sought clarification on the measures being undertaken to streamline the mechanism for processing these appeals efficiently.

In addition to the pendency data, the Election Commission was asked to inform the court about the requirement for constituting additional tribunals to expedite disposal of the backlog. The directions reflect judicial concern over potential delays in resolving electoral disputes that directly impact voter participation and democratic processes.

The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal had triggered numerous appeals from citizens challenging their inclusion or exclusion from voter lists. The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the importance of establishing clear timelines and adequate institutional infrastructure for resolving such electoral disputes.