Bengal Voters Face Rights Loss as Tribunal System Remains Non-Functional
In Kolkata, a critical situation has emerged where lakhs of voters in West Bengal are at risk of losing their voting rights due to the non-functional state of the tribunal system until Saturday. Monday marks the final day for adjudication concerning voters in the 152 assembly constituencies scheduled to go to the polls in the first phase of elections on April 23.
Deadline and Electoral Roll Freeze
For the first phase of elections set for April 23, the deadline for submitting nominations concluded at 3 pm on April 6. According to Election Commission rules, the electoral list can be published up until the last date for filing nominations. Consequently, the electoral roll for the 152 constituencies will be frozen by 3 pm on Monday, leaving little time for resolution.
Adjudication Process and Outcomes
A senior Election Commission official provided detailed insights into the adjudication process. Over 700 judicial officers were appointed to handle 60,06,475 cases marked as "under adjudication" in the electoral roll, beginning their work on February 24. By April 4, approximately 57 lakh cases had been disposed of.
Of these processed cases, around 55% were approved, resulting in the addition of those names to the electoral roll. However, 45% were rejected, leading to their exclusion from the list. Those rejected have the option to appeal either online or offline against the orders passed by the judicial officers to the appellate tribunals within 15 days.
Impact on Voting Rights
Considering the rejection rate of 45%, it is estimated that 25.6 lakh persons have already lost their voting rights through this judicial adjudication process. These individuals are eligible to appeal to the appellate tribunals, which remain their sole avenue for recourse. However, doubts persist over whether these tribunals can become functional by Monday, raising serious questions about the fate of those rejected.
Infrastructure Challenges and Concerns
Despite the identification of tribunal locations at the Shyama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation in Joka, the necessary infrastructure for retired judges—who are expected to preside over the proceedings—has not yet been established. This delay has sparked concerns about whether the adjudication process can commence within the stipulated time frame.
Sources indicate that the retired judges intend to conduct proceedings strictly in accordance with established legal procedures. However, the absence of adequate infrastructure has cast significant uncertainty over the implementation of the process, potentially jeopardizing timely resolutions.
Recent Appeals and Actions
In a recent development, the Chief Electoral Officer's office issued a press release on Saturday, stating that around 8,000 appeals under Section 24 of the Representation of People Act, 1950, have been submitted in the past few days. These cases have been forwarded to the concerned district magistrates for necessary action as per the provisions of the Act.
This situation underscores the urgency and complexity of ensuring fair electoral processes in West Bengal, with millions of voters hanging in the balance as deadlines approach.
