Kolkata: The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a crucial case on Monday concerning the deletion of voter names from West Bengal’s electoral rolls, a matter carrying major political implications ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has intensified as the state prepares for two-phase polling scheduled on April 23 and 29.
The timing of the hearing is significant as the Election Commission of India freezes electoral rolls on the last date for filing nominations. For Phase 1, covering 152 constituencies, the nomination deadline ends at 3 pm on April 6.
According to official data, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has led to the deletion of over 63.66 lakh names from the voter list since November 2025. This includes 58.2 lakh names removed during the draft stage released in December 2025, followed by an additional 5.46 lakh deletions before the final list was published.
In addition, more than 60 lakh voters were placed under “adjudication” due to doubts over their eligibility. Of these, around 52 lakh cases have been resolved as of April 3, with approximately 55% of those individuals reinstated in the electoral rolls. However, about 23.4 lakh people have been excluded after rejection of their claims.
These individuals retain the right to appeal within 15 days through designated appellate mechanisms. However, concerns remain as 19 newly constituted tribunals—intended to handle such appeals—are yet to become operational.
The urgency of the matter is heightened by the fact that April 6 marks the final day for adjudication of appeals for constituencies voting in the first phase. Only those cleared through this process will be eligible to vote, provided their names are included in the supplementary electoral rolls.
The Supreme Court’s intervention is expected to play a critical role in addressing concerns over voter exclusion and ensuring electoral fairness in one of India’s most politically significant states.
