Election Commission Yet to Publish Names of Reinstated Voters as Supreme Court Deadline Nears
With just 72 hours remaining until the Supreme Court's deadline, the Election Commission has failed to publish the name of a single individual whose voting rights have been reinstated by the SIR tribunals. These voters are eligible to participate in the first phase of the Bengal assembly polls scheduled for April 23, raising concerns about transparency and electoral preparedness.
Background on Voter Exclusion and Judicial Process
More than 27 lakh people were excluded from the voters' list following judicial adjudication, which marked the final stage of the Summary Revision of electoral rolls initiated in November 2025. Their status as electors now hinges on the decisions of 19 appellate tribunals established under the Supreme Court's directive.
The Supreme Court has ruled that deleted voters from constituencies involved in the first phase of polling can exercise their franchise in the upcoming elections if their appeals are cleared by April 21. For the second phase, set for April 29, the deadline is April 27.
Current Status of Tribunal Operations
According to an Election Commission source, the tribunals commenced their work on April 13 and had disposed of close to 200 cases by Thursday. However, Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, stated that he lacks information on the exact number of cases disposed of or approved so far.
"The tribunal's functioning is totally independent of the Election Commission and the CEO's office. Until the dashboard is ready, I cannot say how many cases have been disposed of by the tribunals. The EC is trying its best to launch the dashboard as soon as possible," Agarwal explained.
Functioning of the Tribunals
All 19 tribunals, each led by a retired judge, are operating from an institute in Kolkata's Joka area. The retired judges begin their sessions at 10 am and work until 5-6 pm daily. A retired Calcutta High Court judge, who heads one of these tribunals, noted that while some logistical and infrastructural challenges persist, the work is progressing steadily.
"Cases are being disposed of regularly. While some logistical and infrastructural hitches remain, work is going on," the judge remarked.
Access to Tribunal Decisions and Voter Notification
When asked about how to access the tribunals' orders, the judge advised, "Keep an eye on the Election Commission website." Regarding how appellants will be informed about the clearance of their names, CEO Agarwal stated that voters would be notified of decisions through their Booth Level Officers, with additional means also being utilized.
This situation underscores the urgency and complexity surrounding voter reinstatement as the election dates approach, with many awaiting clarity on their eligibility to vote.
