Confusion over SIR voter appeal tribunals continues in Bengal

Under the Supreme Court’s directions, appellate tribunals must decide appeals by April 21 for the first phase (polling on April 23) and by April 27 for the second phase (polling on April 29). If an appeal is allowed, the voter’s name must be restored via a supplementary roll.

Md Yusuf, a social worker, noted that names of at least 73 voters were deleted from a polling station in Purba Beliayari, Magrahat. A week-long camp had been conducted to help voters appeal online before the tribunals.

Pradyut Ghosh, 55, travelled over 40 km to the institute at Pailan with documents to prove his octogenarian father’s identity, but security did not allow entry; he was told he would be informed with a specific hearing date if his father’s case is called.

The Supreme Court ordered that voters cleared by appellate tribunals for inclusion in electoral rolls at least two days before polling will be entitled to vote in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections.

The tribunals have started working, with all 19 retired judges reportedly on duty. They are scrutinising the documents submitted by voters marked 'under adjudication' after the SIR, and the office says the SOP will be finalised by the tribunals’ judges.

On March 10, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to constitute 19 appellate tribunals, appointing retired judges to hear appeals against orders of judicial officers in cases involving voters marked 'under adjudication' following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.