India
oi-Swastika Sruti
In a significant development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Supreme Court has allowed thousands of voters-whose names were removed from the electoral rolls-to vote, but with a condition.
Ahead of West Bengal’s April 23-29 elections, the Supreme Court ruled eligible voters whose names were removed from rolls (affecting 90.8 lakh deletions and 34 lakh appeals) may vote if their appeals are decided by April 27.
Only those whose appeals are decided in time will be able to exercise their voting rights.
What the Supreme Court Said
The Supreme Court, using its special powers under Article 142, made it clear that eligible voters should not be denied their right to vote if their cases are resolved before polling.
The court stated that if appellate tribunals decide appeals by April 21 or April 27, the names of such voters must be added to a supplementary voter list, allowing them to vote in the elections.
However, the court also clarified an important point:
Simply having an appeal pending will not give anyone the right to vote.
Elections in Two Phases
The West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases:
- First Phase: April 23
- Second Phase: April 29
The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
The court’s decision ensures that voters whose cases are resolved before these dates will not miss their chance to vote.
Role of Election Commission
The Election Commission of India (ECI), which had already finalised the voter list, will now prepare supplementary revised electoral rolls based on tribunal decisions.
No fresh names can be added unless directed by the court. Only those approved through the appeals process will be included.
Massive Voter Deletion and Appeals
The case comes after a large-scale revision of voter lists in West Bengal. During this process:
- Around 90.8 lakh names were removed from voter rolls
- Nearly 34 lakh appeals are currently pending
- 19 appellate tribunals have been set up to hear these cases
This raised concerns about many eligible voters being left out of the electoral process.
How the Case Reached the Supreme Court
The issue reached the Supreme Court after 13 individuals challenged the removal of their names, claiming that proper procedures were not followed.
Earlier, the court had asked them to approach appellate tribunals first, calling the petition premature. Now, with elections close, the court stepped in to ensure fairness.
Mamata Banerjee Welcomes the Decision
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the Supreme Court’s order and expressed satisfaction.
She said that she had asked people to remain patient and that justice would be done. She also expressed pride in the judiciary for protecting voters’ rights.
