WB electoral roll row: Mamata Banerjee alleges wrongful voter deletions

The Supreme Court heard an emotionally charged plea on West Bengal's electoral roll revision. CM Mamata Banerjee alleged wrongful deletions, while the ECI defended its process. The court noted tight timelines and will hear the matter again on Monday.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard an emotionally charged challenge relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally addressing the Bench and alleging large-scale wrongful deletions of voters ahead of elections.

A Bench led by the Chief Justice took up multiple petitions, including one filed by the State of West Bengal, raising concerns over alleged discrepancies, time constraints, and the manner in which the SIR exercise is being conducted. The Court noted that the entire procedure is governed by a strict timeline, which had already been extended by ten days, and that only four days now remain. "We cannot grant the luxury of one more week," the Chief Justice observed, while emphasising that "every problem has a solution so that no innocent citizen is left out."

Petitioners Allege Procedural Flaws

Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, highlighted what he termed as serious procedural difficulties. He placed before the Court data indicating that 32 lakh voters were marked as unmapped, 1.36 crore entries, nearly 20% of the electorate, were flagged under the logical discrepancy list, and around 63 lakh hearings were still pending. He also questioned the appointment of 8,300 micro observers, arguing that they lack statutory backing and are rejecting valid documents such as Aadhaar, domicile and caste certificates.

Election Commission Defends Process

Responding to concerns about communication, the Chief Justice noted that the list was not the sole mode and that individual notices were also being issued. Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Election Commission of India (ECI), submitted that all notices contain reasons and that voters were permitted to act through authorised agents. He defended the appointment of micro observers, stating that the State government failed to provide adequate Group B/Class II officers despite repeated requests, leaving the Commission with no alternative.

The hearing also saw exchanges on name discrepancies arising from linguistic and transliteration issues. The Bench observed that such problems occur pan-India due to local dialects. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal reminded the Court that assurances had earlier been given that such minor discrepancies would not be pressed.

Mamata Banerjee's Direct Appeal to the Bench

Addressing the Court directly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the SIR process was being used only for the deletion of names, disproportionately affecting women, migrants, and the poor. She questioned the timing of the exercise after 24 years, its conduct during harvesting season, and claimed that people were being declared dead despite being alive. She further alleged that Bengal was being singled out, while asking why similar exercises were not undertaken in other States such as Assam. Urging the Court's intervention, she said, "Please protect the people's rights. We are grateful."

Supreme Court Seeks Practical Solution

Seeking a practical resolution, the Chief Justice directed the State to provide, by Monday, a list of Group B officers who can be spared to assist in the exercise. The Bench ordered the issuance of notice in both petitions and directed that a connected matter, in which the ECI has already filed an affidavit, also be listed on Monday. The Court said all issues would be heard together on the next date.

The hearing concluded with the Court assuring that the matter would receive urgent and comprehensive consideration. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)