Calcutta High Court Warns of 21-Year Delay in Voter Appeal Resolutions

The Calcutta High Court has raised serious concerns regarding the backlog of appeals related to voter deletions under the Special Intensive Revision process, suggesting that at the current rate of proceedings, it could take up to 21 years to clear all pending cases. This alarming observation was made during a hearing involving a Cooch Behar resident, Sirajul Shekh, whose application for a passport was stalled due to the removal of his name from the electoral rolls.

Justice Kausik Chanda, who presided over the case, acknowledged the urgency of Shekh’s situation but refrained from ordering passport processing by the authorities. He emphasized that without official recognition as a citizen, Shekh would not be eligible for a passport, indicating the serious implications of the electoral roll discrepancies on citizens’ rights.

Sirajul Shekh’s predicament arose when his Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number became invalid after his name was deleted from the electoral rolls, a move that triggered a police verification hold on his passport application. Shekh sought the court’s assistance, stating that he needed to travel abroad for medical treatment pertaining to a gastrointestinal ailment. His legal counsel argued that a voter identity card is not a mandatory requirement under the existing Passports Act of 1967 or the Passports Rules of 1980, questioning the rationale behind the hold.

The court’s remarks highlight a broader issue within the electoral and judicial systems, where administrative inefficiencies can lead to dire consequences for citizens. The backlog in appellate tribunals raises questions about the efficacy of processes meant to safeguard electoral rights and, subsequently, other civic rights, such as access to essential documents like passports.

Justice Chanda urged the appellate tribunal responsible for handling special intensive revision cases to expedite hearings, reflecting a recognition of the critical nature of such appeals. The case not only underscores the plight of individuals caught in bureaucratic delays but also points to the need for systemic reforms in the handling of electoral disputes to avoid long-term stagnation in resolution processes.

Source: scroll.in