New Delhi: The Supreme Court has modified its earlier stance to allow appellate tribunals in West Bengal to accept fresh documentation from individuals appealing their exclusion from the electoral rolls. Presiding over a hearing on Wednesday, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi ruled that while new evidence can now be introduced, it must undergo a strict verification process to ensure authenticity. This decision marks a significant shift, as the court had previously restricted tribunals to considering only those documents already presented before the initial investigating officers.
The apex court was informed by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is nearing completion, with approximately 4.7 million out of 6 million total objections already settled as of March 31. Administrative teams and over 500 judicial officers are reportedly resolving between 175,000 and 200,000 cases per day. Based on this rapid pace, officials expect the remaining 1.3 million objections to be fully adjudicated by April 7. The bench expressed satisfaction with these figures, noting that the logistical management of the exercise remains under the direct supervision of the Calcutta High Court.
During the proceedings, the court also addressed concerns regarding the “mass filing” of Form-6 for new voter registrations. While the petitioners raised alarms over a sudden surge in applications, the bench stated it would not act on oral submissions without documented evidence. The court emphasized that the primary goal remains a “leak-proof” voter list, ensuring that genuine citizens are not disenfranchised while also removing any unjustified inclusions.
As part of the ongoing process, 19 appellate tribunals headed by former High Court judges have been notified to handle disputes. The court clarified that these tribunals must have access to the specific reasons recorded by adjudicating officers for each deletion or inclusion. This level of transparency is intended to uphold the integrity of the democratic process in West Bengal, particularly as the province prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections.
