The Supreme Court has mandated that Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal provide out-of-turn hearings for voters seeking to be included in the electoral rolls. This directive came during a hearing on April 24, as the Court noted the urgency expressed by appellants ahead of the ongoing Assembly elections.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant presided over the bench that issued the order, emphasising the importance of addressing these appeals expeditiously. The Court specifically highlighted the need for swift action in cases where urgency can be demonstrated by the appellants.

The Court also granted individuals whose names were excluded the option to approach the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to address their grievances. The directive serves as a pathway for those affected to seek judicial intervention as necessary.

Statistics on Voter Appeals and Turnout

During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Kalyan Banerjee, representing the West Bengal government, reported that only 136 out of nearly 27 lakh appeals had been resolved so far. This disparity raises concerns regarding the timely processing of voter appeals, crucial during the elections.

Banerjee informed the Court about the impressive voter turnout this election cycle, which reached approximately 96 per cent, one of the highest in the state’s electoral history. Many migrant workers returned home specifically to participate in the voting process, highlighting the significance of this election.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi commended the peaceful nature of the polling, stressing that democratic participation must be fostered without instances of violence. Both Justices noted that sustaining high levels of voter participation is vital for the vibrancy of democracy in the nation.

Concerns Regarding Voter Exclusion

In a related legal matter, the Supreme Court declined to hear appeals regarding the exclusion of individuals involved in election duty from the voter rolls. Petitioners argued that those conducting the elections were unjustly unable to vote.

CJI Surya Kant directed the petitioners to address this issue directly to the Appellate Tribunal, reinforcing the Court’s position on maintaining the integrity of its prior orders. Justice Bagchi further commented that, irrespective of the current voting rights, the long-term status of individuals on the electoral rolls could still be evaluated by the Court.

The total number of eligible voters in West Bengal has been reported at 7,04,59,284 (7.04 crore) following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. This figure marks a significant reduction compared to the previous total of 7,66,37,529 (7.66 crore), indicating a difference of over 61 lakh names due to the ongoing adjudication process, with approximately 27 lakh names deleted.

Following the completion of Phase I of the polling on April 23, West Bengal registered a significantly high voter turnout of 91.83 per cent, as confirmed by the Election Commission of India. The successful polling occurred amidst robust security arrangements across 152 of the state’s 294 constituencies, underscoring an active and engaged electoral process during this critical period.

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