Supreme Court Directs Public Display of Voter Names in West Bengal
The Supreme Court of India issued a significant order on Monday. The court directed the Election Commission of India to display the names of all 1.25 crore electors categorized under "logical discrepancies." This action concerns the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
Court's Specific Instructions
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant delivered this directive. The bench was hearing petitions that alleged procedural irregularities in the revision exercise. According to the court's order, the Election Commission must display these names at specific locations.
The display locations include:
- Gram Panchayat Bhavans
- Block offices
- Ward offices
The bench stated this measure aims to enable affected persons to participate in the process. The court also instructed the poll body to provide clear guidance for submitting documents and objections. Additionally, the West Bengal government received directions to ensure adequate manpower for smooth implementation.
Timeline and Procedures
The Supreme Court set a strict timeline for affected individuals. Those in the "logical discrepancy" category who haven't submitted claims or objections must do so within ten days. Authorized officers must issue letters to facilitate document submission.
The court addressed security concerns as well. The Director General of Police of West Bengal received instructions to ensure smooth conduct and prevent law-and-order issues. Where objections appear satisfactory, applicants will receive hearings following the Election Commission's Standard Operating Procedure.
Background and Controversy
Over 1.2 crore names were flagged under the "logical discrepancy" category on the ERONET portal. This massive number sparked considerable controversy in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee previously criticized this categorization.
Banerjee called it a "dubious category" and accused the Election Commission of acting at the BJP's behest. She claimed the Special Intensive Revision was conducted recklessly in Bengal. According to her statement, this resulted in the deletion of nearly 58 lakh names from electoral rolls.
"When even this massive purge failed to satisfy the BJP's political objectives," Banerjee said, "a new and dubious category called 'logical discrepancies' was invented." She added that 1.36 crore voters faced hearings without the Commission disclosing the complete list of names.
Electoral Roll Revision Timeline
The Election Commission had already extended deadlines for this process. The deadline to file claims and objections moved from January 15 to January 19. Hearings will continue until February 7.
The final electoral roll for West Bengal is scheduled for publication on February 14. Assembly elections in the state are expected to occur in April-May, adding urgency to this electoral revision process.
