Supreme Court Weighs In on West Bengal Voter Roll Controversy

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea over the deletion of names from West Bengal's electoral rolls during the state’s Special Intensive Revision. The concern arises as voters face removal despite valid documents. Judicial officers are managing extensive claims and discrepancies related to voter data integrity.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court decided to review a new petition filed by individuals whose names were removed from the voter rolls during West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, acknowledged the plea's relevance, pointing to issues faced by long-time voters suddenly omitted from the list.

Senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy highlighted the plight of electors whose voting documents were left unconsidered, prompting a hearing. Previously, on February 24, the Supreme Court permitted the enlistment of West Bengal civil judges and judicial officers from Jharkhand and Odisha to manage the extensive task of adjudicating on 80 lakh claims and objections amid ongoing challenges.

A noticeable concern is the mismatches identified, including discrepancies in parentage data and significant age differences between voters and their registered parents. Chief Justice Kant noted these challenges and affirmed a need for prompt resolution. The court ensured the execution of SIR before the February 28 deadline and requested an affidavit from the WB DGP concerning allegations of interference.

(With inputs from agencies.)