The Supreme Court on Monday asked former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to file a fresh plea related to the issue of victory margins being less than the deletion of votes in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This matter was one of the key poll planks of the ousted Trinamool Congress (TMC).
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions made by senior advocate and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee. He alleged that in 31 constituencies, the victory margins were less than the number of votes deleted during the roll revision process.
The Election Commission opposed these arguments, stating that the proper remedy for such concerns is an election petition. It added that any issues related to the SIR, including appeals over the addition or deletion of votes, could be addressed through the poll panel itself.
This is a developing story, and further updates are awaited.
Background of the Case
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls had become a contentious issue in West Bengal, with the TMC alleging that the deletion of votes was done in a manner that affected the outcome of elections. The party claimed that in several seats, the margin of victory was smaller than the number of votes removed, raising questions about the fairness of the revision process.
Legal Proceedings
During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench considered the arguments from both sides. While the TMC sought immediate intervention, the Election Commission maintained that the matter should be raised through an election petition after the election results are declared.
The court directed Mamata Banerjee to file a fresh plea, after which it will decide on the next course of action. The bench also noted the need to balance electoral integrity with the rights of political parties to raise legitimate concerns.
This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over electoral roll revisions and their impact on democratic processes in India.
