Supreme Court Orders Election Commission to Resolve West Bengal Voter Appeals

The Supreme Court of India ordered the Election Commission of India to provide detailed data on appeals pending before tribunals regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ruled that disenfranchised persons have a right to have their appeals decided within a reasonable time, emphasizing that all appeals should be resolved before the 2029 parliamentary elections.

The Court directed the poll panel to submit a breakdown of pending and disposed appeals, specifically segregating those seeking inclusion from those opposing it. This data will help the Court determine if inclusion appeals should be prioritized to ensure voters can participate in upcoming municipal and panchayat elections. The bench stated that appeals must be adjudicated in a time-bound manner and indicated it would appoint additional tribunals if necessary.

The case follows the establishment of 19 tribunals by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and the deployment of approximately 700 judicial officers to handle 60 lakh claims. Petitioners argued that mass deletions may have targeted specific communities and impacted recent State Assembly election results. The Election Commission informed the Court it is coordinating with tribunals to address portal architecture issues and streamline the disposal process.