Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has stepped in to address an ongoing disagreement between the Election Commission of India and the Government of West Bengal over the deployment and rank of officers for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
Court Flags Practical Difficulties
During the hearing, the court observed that it was “nearly impossible” for it to decide which authority’s interpretation was correct regarding the rank of officials to be deputed for the revision exercise. The bench noted that the situation was unusual and required an immediate, workable solution to prevent delays in the voter list update.
Judicial Officers to Handle Claims and Objections
To break the deadlock, the bench led by the Chief Justice of India requested the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to appoint serving or retired judicial officers of the rank of District Judge or Additional District Judge. These officers will be tasked with deciding pending claims and objections related to the inclusion or deletion of names from the electoral rolls, especially in cases involving what the court described as “logical discrepancies.”
Background of the Dispute
The conflict arose during preparations for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, a key exercise aimed at ensuring accurate and updated voter lists. Differences emerged between the Election Commission and the state government over who should control the deputation of officers and what seniority level was appropriate for officials overseeing sensitive decisions on voter eligibility.
Focus on Protecting Electoral Integrity
The Supreme Court underlined that the priority was to ensure fairness, transparency and credibility in the voter revision process. By involving independent judicial officers, the court indicated that disputed cases could be resolved impartially without further administrative confrontation between constitutional authorities.
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