New Delhi, April 1: The Supreme Court held a hearing on a petition challenging the SIR in West Bengal on Wednesday. According to a letter from the Calcutta High Court, all objections related to voter IDs are expected to be resolved by April 7. The Election Commission’s lawyer informed the Supreme Court that training for the appellate tribunal has already commenced, with hearings set to begin tomorrow.
As per the Calcutta High Court’s letter, 19 appellate tribunals have been established in West Bengal, led by a retired Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. Individuals whose names were removed during the claims and objections process can approach these tribunals. The Supreme Court expressed satisfaction with the daily resolutions occurring in the SIR, with Chief Justice DY Chandrachud noting that between 150,000 to 200,000 objections are being heard and decided each day.
However, the TMC’s lawyer raised concerns about potential interference from Election Commission officials, which the Supreme Court dismissed as baseless. The Court emphasized that the Election Commission must ensure that when the appellate tribunal makes a decision regarding an individual’s inclusion or exclusion from the voter list, the reasons must be documented in a designated column. The final voter list published after tribunal hearings will determine whether individuals can exercise their right to vote.
TMC lawyer Kalyan Banerjee highlighted the issue of a large number of Form 6 submissions, alleging that one individual is submitting 30,000 forms. He stated that while judicial processes are ongoing, thousands of new voters are being added through these submissions. The Chief Justice expressed displeasure at such statements that raise doubts, asserting that this is a common occurrence and objections can be filed. The Election Commission’s lawyer clarified that names can be added until the final nomination deadline as per the law.
Banerjee requested that newly added names be disclosed booth-wise to facilitate objections. The Chief Justice responded that training for all judges would be completed today, enabling them to review all appeals filed online and offline.
In light of concerns over potential electoral violence in West Bengal, a petition has been filed by a religious organization seeking the formation of a high-level monitoring committee under the leadership of a former Chief Justice. This committee would address issues of electoral violence to prevent a recurrence of situations similar to those in 2022. The Supreme Court instructed the lawyer representing the religious organization to provide copies of the petition to all parties involved. The Court stated that this petition would be heard during the next session concerning the SIR in Bengal.
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My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several 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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