Supreme Court Allows Calcutta High Court to Request Additional Judicial Support for Voter Verification in West Bengal

The Supreme Court of India has granted permission for the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to seek additional civil judges with at least three years of experience. This measure aims to bolster the judiciary’s capacity to handle the verification of objections under the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in West Bengal.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, took this decision in response to concerns raised about a shortage of judicial officers to address over 50 lakh objections classified under the ‘Logical Discrepancy’ category within the specified timeframe.

The Calcutta High Court highlighted that even a contingent of 250 judicial officers would require approximately 80 days to complete the verification process. In light of this issue, the Supreme Court clarified that civil judges with the requisite experience could be deployed in addition to those already assigned. Furthermore, should there be a need for additional resources, the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court can request serving or retired judicial officers from neighboring states, Jharkhand and Odisha.

As per the Supreme Court’s directive, the Election Commission of India will be responsible for covering costs associated with travel, accommodation, and honorariums for the officers who will be deployed. The Supreme Court stated, “If the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court believes that more human resources are necessary, he may approach the Chief Justices of the High Courts of Odisha and Jharkhand for assistance. The expenses incurred for this deployment will be borne by the Election Commission.” This call for cooperation underscores the urgency of the situation as West Bengal prepares for upcoming assembly elections.

This directive follows a recent order from the Supreme Court mandating the deployment of district judges in West Bengal to address outstanding voter claims from individuals categorized in the Commission’s “Logical Discrepancy” list during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state. The Supreme Court invoked its constitutional powers under Article 142, which allows for actions necessary to ensure complete justice, to expedite the verification process.

The bench, which included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi alongside Chief Justice Surya Kant, acknowledged the challenges faced by the Calcutta High Court in managing the verification of voter objections. By requesting the intervention of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, the Supreme Court aims to facilitate a more efficient resolution to the pending claims, particularly focusing on those identified in the logical discrepancy list by the Election Commission.

This collaboration between state judicial systems reflects a concerted effort to maintain electoral integrity and transparency, ensuring that all eligible voters’ claims are addressed promptly as the state approaches an important electoral period. The Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the critical need for adequate judicial resources to uphold the democratic process in West Bengal.

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