Former Calcutta High Court Judge Removed from Electoral Roll Following Judicial Review
In a significant development, retired Calcutta High Court judge Sahidullah Munshi has been officially struck off the electoral list after a thorough judicial scrutiny process. Justice Munshi, who served with distinction on the Calcutta High Court bench for seven years and currently holds the position of chairperson for the state Auqaf board, is now preparing to appeal this decision before the appropriate appellate tribunal to seek reinstatement of his voting rights.
Family Expresses Shock and Disappointment Over Voter List Deletion
Speaking exclusively to TOI, Iftekar Munshi, the retired judge's son and an advocate practicing at the Calcutta High Court, revealed his profound disappointment upon discovering his father's name had been deleted from the voter list. "If he was serving as a judge at some point of time, is it even palatable to hear that his name has been deleted from the electoral roll?" Iftekar questioned, highlighting the apparent contradiction between his father's former judicial position and current electoral status.
Iftekar Munshi, who is himself currently under adjudication regarding his own voter status, emphasized the rigorous scrutiny process judges undergo: "For a person to become a judge, you submit all your documents. It is scrutinised, your name is approved by the Collegium, then the President appoints you. He takes oath on the Indian Constitution. It is surprising that his name was deleted."
Multiple Family Members Face Voter List Scrutiny
The electoral complications extend beyond Justice Sahidullah Munshi alone. His wife, Sahana Munshi, also finds her name currently under adjudication regarding her voter status. Meanwhile, their younger son, Ibtehaj Munshi, has recently applied as a new voter. Although he has received his EPIC number, his elder brother Iftekar confirmed that Ibtehaj's name has yet to appear on the official voter list.
Justice Munshi and his wife have maintained consistent voter registration, with their names appearing in the 2002 SIR list. The former judge has been exercising his voting rights in Kolkata continuously since the year 2000, making the recent deletion particularly noteworthy.
Appeal Process and Lack of Clarification
Iftekar Munshi expressed frustration over the lack of specific reasons provided for his father's removal from the electoral roll. "What exactly are we appealing against, how do we bring our arguments there, what is the reason for deletion or adjudication?" he asked, pointing to the challenges of mounting an effective appeal without clear grounds for the initial decision.
The appeal will be heard by the Kolkata Appellate Tribunal, which will be presided over by former Calcutta High Court Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam. This tribunal will ultimately determine whether Justice Munshi's name should be reinstated to the electoral list, a decision with implications for both the retired judge's voting rights and the broader principles of electoral integrity.
