Bengal SIR row: Can you cast vote if Tribunal clears you despite roll freeze?

Kolkata: With the West Bengal Assembly elections approaching fast, a key legal question has taken centre stage: can voters whose names were deleted under the SIR process exercise their franchise if a tribunal later declares them valid?

The Supreme Court is set to hear the matter on Monday, and its decision could determine the fate of lakhs of voters across the state.

As per existing rules, the electoral rolls have already been frozen, raising doubts over whether any last-minute inclusion is possible even after legal clearance.

More than 90 lakh names have been struck off the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), triggering widespread concern and political sparring.

Those affected have the option to approach tribunals to prove their eligibility, but the timeline remains a major hurdle.

The central question remains: even if a tribunal recognises an applicant as a genuine voter, will their name be reinstated in time for polling, or will they be forced to sit out this election?

The Supreme Court has indicated that it will examine the issue and may issue necessary directions if required. For many, the hearing offers the last hope to reclaim their voting rights before ballots are cast.

The controversy has also intensified political rhetoric. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of deliberately deleting names to influence the electoral outcome, questioning the logic behind removing large numbers of voters.

The BJP, however, has defended the exercise, stating that only fake or ineligible voters have been removed, and those who can prove their credentials should be allowed back into the rolls.

Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury has also criticised the process, arguing that a fair election is impossible without a complete and accurate voter list. He alleged that many genuine voters are being excluded due to procedural lapses.

Out of over 60 lakh voters currently under scrutiny, more than 27 lakh have already been marked as invalid.

Applications for reinstatement are pouring in from districts, with authorities setting up a centralised tribunal system in Kolkata’s Joka to handle the volume.

As many as 19 judicial officers, assisted by administrative staff and micro-observers, are expected to examine the claims.

The Election Commission is also stepping up monitoring, with senior officials visiting the state to review poll preparedness.

Meanwhile, protests against voter deletions continue across West Bengal, adding to the tension ahead of polling.

With barely days to go, all eyes are now on the Supreme Court, whose ruling could decide whether thousands regain their right to vote or remain excluded from this election.

So, can you cast vote if the Tribunal permits?

Whether axed voters can cast their vote after getting tribunal clearance will be decided by the Supreme Court, which is set to hear a batch of pleas on the SIR of electoral rolls in the state today, April 13.

According to the apex court’s cause list, the matter will be heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.