Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Derek O'Brien has approached the Supreme Court of India, raising serious concerns about the voter list revision process in West Bengal. The petition, filed on Tuesday, seeks an extension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) deadline and a postponement of the final roll publication until what it terms "appropriate safeguards" are implemented.
Allegations of Massive Voter Deletion Without Notice
The core of the petition revolves around the alleged deletion of a staggering number of voters from the electoral rolls. The application claims that 58,20,898 names were removed "without any notice or personal hearing" in the draft rolls published on December 16. This, it states, resulted in a sharp decline from 7,66,37,529 voters after the 2025 Special Summary Revision to just 7,08,16,616 voters in the subsequent draft roll.
O'Brien's plea highlights several procedural lapses attributed to the Election Commission of India (ECI). It argues that the absence of a clear, written protocol for issuing notices to voters on the "logical discrepancy" list makes the process opaque and arbitrary. This, the petition contends, undermines the constitutional duty of the ECI to act fairly and transparently.
Technical Glitches and Vendor Concerns
The application points to specific technical issues plaguing the process. It cites glitches in the AERO App that allegedly led to voters receiving automatic notices erroneously. Furthermore, the petition questions the use of an undisclosed software for "mapping" current voters with the 2002 electoral roll.
A significant allegation involves a private vendor with a "chequered history" being engaged for the process. The petition references a memo dated December 29 from the Additional Chief Electoral Officer to all District Electoral Officers, which reportedly admits that digitizing the 2002 roll by converting old PDF scans into CSV format caused widespread and systemic errors in voter data mapping.
Requests for Reform and Inclusivity
The TMC MP's application puts forward a series of requests aimed at correcting the perceived flaws. Key demands include:
- Stopping the ECI's practice of communicating critical instructions through informal channels.
- Allowing Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to assist voters during hearings.
- Ensuring no voter is excluded due to erroneous "mapping."
- Accepting a wider range of documents for verification, such as Permanent Residence Certificates, Panchayat Residence Certificates, and Family Registers.
- Permitting virtual hearings or representation through family members for migrant voters, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to reduce hardship.
The petition underscores the potential disenfranchisement of vulnerable sections of the electorate due to the current process. By moving the Supreme Court, Derek O'Brien seeks judicial intervention to ensure the integrity of the electoral roll in West Bengal, a state with a history of politically charged elections. The outcome of this plea could have significant implications for the upcoming electoral battles in the state.
