The Supreme Court has ruled that voters in West Bengal who are reinstated to the electoral rolls by appellate tribunals shortly before polling will still be allowed to cast their votes, as long as the decision comes within a narrow window before election day.
This observation was made in context of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which involves updating voter lists ahead of elections. The Court made it clear that while the system must remain orderly, individuals who successfully challenge their exclusion in time should not lose their right to vote.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stated that electoral rolls are 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 are still pending. It underlined that granting voting rights without a final decision on eligibility could disrupt the electoral process and create administrative complications.
The judges also acknowledged the large number of appeals filed by people contesting their removal from voter lists. Given the scale, they stressed that the legally established mechanism of appellate tribunals must be relied upon to handle these disputes efficiently.
In essence, the ruling ensures that those who are cleared in time are not unfairly excluded, while also preserving the integrity and smooth functioning of the election system.
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