Supreme Court relief for West Bengal elections: What excluded voters must do now before polls
Kolkata: In a significant intervention just days before the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Supreme Court has opened a narrow but crucial window for lakhs of voters excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to reclaim their right to vote.
The court ruled that individuals whose appeals against exclusion are allowed by Appellate Tribunals by April 21 or April 27 must be included in a supplementary electoral roll and permitted to vote in the respective phases of polling on April 23 and April 29.
The decision comes as a major relief for nearly 27 lakh electors who were excluded during adjudication, part of an overall deletion of over 90 lakh names from the State’s voter list, roughly 11.85% of the electorate.
What excluded voters can do now
The Supreme Court’s order makes it clear that only those whose appeals are decided and allowed within the given deadlines will regain voting rights. Mere filing of an appeal is not enough.
To benefit from the ruling, excluded voters must:
- File an appeal immediately before the Appellate Tribunal if they haven’t already
- Ensure hearings are completed quickly, given the tight timelines
- Track tribunal decisions before April 21 (Phase 1) or April 27 (Phase 2)
- Check inclusion in the supplementary revised electoral roll to be published by the Election Commission
- Use updated voter slips prepared from the supplementary list before polling day
The court invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to direct the Election Commission to publish these supplementary rolls, ensuring that successful appellants are not disenfranchised due to procedural delays.
Relief, but challenges remain
While the ruling has been welcomed by many, concerns remain about whether a significant number of voters can actually benefit, given the limited time.
Appellate Tribunals, set up only recently and starting operations as late as April 13, are yet to process a large volume of cases.
Over 34 lakh appeals had already been filed as of April 11, highlighting the scale of the issue. However, with just days left before polling, activists and observers fear that many eligible voters may still miss out.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the decision, calling it a victory for democracy and urging affected voters to approach tribunals immediately. Watch the video below:
She also said party workers would help generate voter slips based on the supplementary lists to ensure participation.
On the other hand, the BJP has criticised the entire revision process, alleging large-scale deletions targeting specific communities, even as it maintained that the ruling Trinamool Congress would face electoral defeat regardless.
High-stakes election amid voter row
The controversy stems from the SIR exercise, which saw massive deletions from an initial electorate of 7.66 crore, bringing the number down to about 6.75 crore voters.
Districts like Murshidabad and Malda recorded some of the highest exclusions.
With electoral rolls already frozen after nominations, the Supreme Court’s intervention is perhaps the last opportunity for excluded voters to participate in the democratic process this election cycle.
However, the benefit ultimately hinges on how swiftly tribunals can process appeals , making the coming days critical for lakhs hoping to regain their franchise.