The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain petitions filed by 65 election-duty officers from West Bengal whose names were struck off the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists. The matter came up amid a wider controversy over the Election Commission-ordered exercise, which has led to the deletion of 90.8 lakh names in the state.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi asked the petitioners to approach the appellate tribunals created to hear challenges against exclusions from the rolls.
The court’s response came even as the petitioners argued that the officers were on election duty and their EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) numbers had been removed from the voter list.
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Officers allege arbitrary deletions, seek urgent relief
Senior Advocate Mr Shamshad, appearing for the officers, told the court that the deletions were arbitrary and that many of the affected officers had not been given reasons. According to the reports, he said the petitioners were on election duty and that their duty orders carried EPIC numbers, but those numbers were later deleted.
The bench, however, told the petitioners to approach the appellate tribunals set up on the top court’s earlier order to hear challenges to such voter name deletions. “Make these arguments before the appellate tribunal. Let the tribunal look into it,” said Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
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Right to remain on rolls protected, says court
Justice Bagchi said the petitioners may not vote in this election, but their "more valuable right" to stay on the electoral rolls would be preserved. The bench also noted that tribunal orders would be passed in due course, while the broader SIR exercise in West Bengal continues to draw legal scrutiny.
The court had also ordered the creation of appellate tribunals for those seeking to challenge exclusion orders. Nineteen such tribunals are currently hearing appeals. On April 13, the Supreme Court further directed that voters cleared by these tribunals at least two days before polling would be eligible to vote in the Assembly elections. According to reports, only 136 appeals have been decided so far.
