Supreme Court Postpones Hearing on West Bengal Bye-Poll Appeals Amid Voter Roll Controversy

The Supreme Court of India has decided not to expedite the hearing concerning the pending appeals linked to the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls in West Bengal. This decision comes just ahead of the scheduled bye-elections for the Rejinagar and Nandigram Assembly constituencies on October 6.

During a session on Monday, a counsel requested the bench, which was led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, to advance the case, noting that it was originally listed for discussion on Tuesday but had not appeared on the cause list. In response, Chief Justice Kant remarked, “These are only bye-elections, that’s all,” indicating the court’s stance on the urgency of the matter. The bench ultimately scheduled the hearing for October 5, just one day before the elections.

The lawyer representing the case expressed concerns that if the appeals remained unresolved before the bye-elections, it would mark the second occasion that a group of voters would miss their chance to cast their votes. He cited the Assembly elections that took place in the state on April 23 and April 29, which had already seen significant changes to the electoral rolls. In the months leading up to the revision process, the Election Commission had removed approximately 9.1 million voters, equating to nearly 11.9% of West Bengal’s total electorate.

This situation has arisen in the context of ongoing hearings at 19 appellate tribunals established following a Supreme Court ruling on March 10. These tribunals have been examining appeals concerning the decisions made during the voter roll revision, which has sparked considerable debate and concern among the electorate. The recent comments from the Election Commission on September 16 indicate that the complexities surrounding these appeals are far from resolved, suggesting a contentious electoral landscape in West Bengal.

As the state gears up for these bye-elections, the implications of the Supreme Court’s decisions on voter disenfranchisement remain a critical issue. With the stakes high, the developments in these appeals could significantly affect the political climate in West Bengal in the lead-up to upcoming elections.

Source: scroll.in