The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound West Bengal.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said it is “happy and optimistic” about the progress, noting that a large number of objections have already been resolved.
Over 47 Lakh Objections Already Cleared
According to data presented before the court, more than 47 lakh objections have been disposed of out of over 60 lakh pending cases.
Appellate Tribunals Set Up for Appeals
The Bench also reviewed the formation of Appellate Tribunals by the Election Commission of India.
So far, 19 tribunals have been notified, with arrangements made in Kolkata to support their functioning for at least eight weeks. These tribunals will handle appeals related to voter list decisions.
Training and Transparency Measures
The court noted that tribunal members are being given orientation and training to manage appeals efficiently, both online and offline.
It also clarified that the system used for electoral roll revision includes a column to record reasons for inclusion or deletion of names, ensuring transparency in the process.
The court directed that tribunals must have full access to these records while deciding appeals.
Court Rejects ‘Premature’ Concerns
During the hearing, senior lawyers raised concerns about large numbers of new applications being filed for voter inclusion during the ongoing revision process.
However, the court termed these concerns as “premature and hypothetical,” stating that such issues can be addressed through the appellate system if required.
Right to Vote Cannot Be Denied
Defending the process, counsel for the Election Commission said that eligible voters have the right to be included in electoral rolls until the last date of nomination.
“If somebody has a right, nobody can stop it,” the court was told, reinforcing the importance of voter inclusion.
Next Hearing on April 7
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for April 7, where it will review the final progress of the revision exercise and the functioning of tribunals.
