Kolkata, March 20: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the formation of 19 appellate tribunals through a notification released on Friday.
These tribunals will address objections raised against decisions made by judicial officers during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign in West Bengal. The cases fall under the category of ‘logical discrepancies.’ Notably, the state is set to hold assembly elections in two phases next month.
The notification stated, “In compliance with the order passed by the Honorable Supreme Court in V.P. (Civil) No. 1089 of 2025 and other cases on March 10, 2026, and upon the recommendation of the Honorable Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, the ECI hereby establishes the following appellate tribunals to hear appeals against orders passed by designated judicial officers concerning the inclusion or removal of potential voters from the electoral rolls of West Bengal.”
Eighteen of the 19 tribunals will be chaired by former High Court judges, while one will be led by a former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
The current Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, T.S. Shivangam, will preside over the tribunal handling cases related to Kolkata, which includes two electoral districts (South and North) and the adjacent North 24 Parganas.
The notification further indicated, “After the publication of the supplementary electoral rolls, appellants may file appeals against orders passed by designated judicial officers as per this notification.”
Appeals to the appellate tribunals can be submitted online through the ECI’s digital platform or physically at the offices of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or Sub-Divisional Officer. These officials will ensure that the appeals are digitized and uploaded to the ECI NET platform promptly.
Additionally, the notification mentioned, “This notification will take effect immediately, and the existence of the aforementioned tribunals will cease once all appeals in the relevant districts are resolved.”
The establishment of these tribunals is seen as a significant step towards ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
Legal experts believe that appeals related to the inclusion or removal of voters often determine the credibility of electoral rolls, especially in politically sensitive states like West Bengal.
This initiative aims to reassure voters and strengthen their trust in democratic institutions ahead of the elections.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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