The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. On Monday, the apex court announced it would seek an immediate report from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court following allegations that appellate tribunals are failing to function effectively and are ignoring previous judicial mandates.
The matter was brought before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing concerned parties, raised an urgent alarm regarding procedural barriers that he claimed are effectively disenfranchising citizens in the state.
Barriers to Justice for Remote Citizens
According to the submissions made in court, the appellate tribunals—established specifically to resolve disputes over the inclusion or exclusion of names in the voter lists—are imposing restrictive measures that hinder accessibility.
Kamat argued that despite the Supreme Court’s earlier directions to ensure a smooth appeal process, the tribunals are currently:
- Prohibiting Legal Representation: Refusing to allow advocates to represent affected citizens.
- Rejecting Physical Filings: Refusing to accept hard-copy applications.
- Enforcing Digital-Only Submissions: Restricting the process exclusively to online or computer-based formats.
“There is a practical difficulty. Citizens from thousands of kilometres away are not allowed representation. This court’s order is not being followed,” Kamat submitted, highlighting that these digital mandates disproportionately affect residents in remote areas with limited infrastructure.
Judicial Concern and “Professional Strategy”
While acknowledging the gravity of the allegations, Chief Justice Surya Kant noted a pattern of frequent urgent mentions regarding the West Bengal SIR issue. The CJI expressed some dissatisfaction with the regularity of the applications, remarking, “Unfortunately, some professional strategy from this side… every day you people one after the other…”
Despite these observations, the bench underscored the necessity of a factual update on the ground reality. “We will get a report from the Chief Justice [of the Calcutta High Court] today itself,” CJI Kant stated, ensuring the matter is addressed without delay.
The functioning of these tribunals is a critical link in the democratic process. The Supreme Court recently passed an order to safeguard voting rights, stipulating that any individual whose appeal against the deletion of their name is successful—even as late as two days before polling—must be allowed to cast their vote.
