Supreme Court Declines to Set Deadline for West Bengal Voter Deletion Appeals

The Supreme Court of India, on Tuesday, stated that it is unable to establish a timeline for the appellate tribunals that are reviewing challenges related to the removal of names from the electoral rolls in West Bengal. This revelation comes amidst ongoing concerns regarding the electoral process in the state, particularly in light of the recent special intensive revision of the voter lists.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, was addressing a petition from Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who has been advocating for expedited proceedings for cases linked to the voter roll revisions. Chowdhury’s petition highlighted the urgency of resolving the disputes surrounding voter deletions, especially as these issues have significant implications for electoral participation.

On July 8, the Calcutta High Court noted that the current pace of the appellate tribunals could lead to a staggering 21-year wait for the resolution of pending appeals related to voter deletions under this special revision initiative. This lengthy timeline has raised alarms among political leaders and advocates for electoral integrity, as it could disenfranchise a substantial number of voters.

The special intensive revision process, which took place prior to the Assembly elections held in April, initially saw over 61 lakh voters excluded from the final rolls published in February. The ongoing process, which has included supplementary lists and the adjudication of nearly 60 lakh “doubtful and pending” cases, has drawn scrutiny from various stakeholders concerned about the integrity of the electoral process.

By April 6, records indicated that approximately 91 lakh voters, representing nearly 11.9% of West Bengal’s electorate prior to the commencement of the revision, had been removed from the electoral rolls. Reports suggest that about 34 lakh appeals are currently pending before the appellate tribunals, of which around 27 lakh were filed by individuals whose names were struck from the voter list. These developments continue to stir debates on the effectiveness and transparency of the electoral revision process in West Bengal.

Source: scroll.in