The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that voters in West Bengal reinstated to the electoral rolls by appellate tribunals shortly before polling would be allowed to cast their votes, as long as the decision came within a narrow window before the election day.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made this observation in the context of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which involved updating voter lists ahead of elections. The Court made it clear that while the system must remain orderly, individuals who successfully challenged their exclusion in time should not lose their right to vote.
It noted that electoral rolls were not entirely frozen until the last moment. If appellate tribunals resolve disputes and restore names up to around two days before polling, those individuals can still participate in the election.
However, the Court refused to extend this benefit to people whose appeals were still pending. It underlined that granting voting rights without a final decision on eligibility could disrupt the electoral process and create administrative complications.
Acknowledging the large number of appeals filed by people contesting their removal from voter lists, the judges stressed that the legally established mechanism of appellate tribunals must be relied upon to handle these disputes efficiently.
In essence, the ruling ensured that those cleared in time were not unfairly excluded, while also preserving the integrity and smooth functioning of the election system.
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