Over 23 Lakh Voters in Bengal Face Uncertainty as Election Tribunals Remain Inactive
The electoral fate of more than 23 lakh voters in West Bengal remains uncertain as the appellate tribunals designated to hear their appeals against exclusion from the electoral rolls remained non-functional until Saturday. This critical situation emerges just before the first phase of elections, scheduled for April 23, creating significant concerns about democratic participation.
Critical Deadline Looms for First-Phase Constituencies
Monday marks the final day for adjudication of appeals for voters in the 152 constituencies participating in the initial election phase. For these individuals, the tribunals represent their last hope after their initial appeals were rejected during the judicial review process. The deadline for submitting nominations for the April 23 polls concludes at 3 PM on April 6, and according to Election Commission rules, the voter list can be published until this final nomination date.
Consequently, the electoral rolls for constituencies voting on April 23 will freeze by 3 PM on Monday, leaving little time for resolution.
Massive Adjudication Process and High Rejection Rates
According to a senior Election Commission official, approximately 52 lakh cases out of slightly over 60 lakh marked as 'under adjudication' had been resolved by Thursday. Over 700 judicial officers were appointed to handle the 60,06,475 doubtful and pending cases in the electoral rolls, beginning their work on February 24.
Of the processed cases so far, 55% have been approved, with those names subsequently added to the electoral rolls. However, the remaining 45% were rejected and excluded from the list. These individuals have the right to appeal the decisions made by judicial officers to appellate tribunals within 15 days, either through online or offline channels.
Considering the 45% rejection rate, approximately 23.4 lakh people have already lost their voting rights through the judicial adjudication process and are eligible to file appeals with the appellate tribunals.
Infrastructure Delays Cast Doubt on Timely Resolution
The necessary infrastructure for retired judges, who are expected to preside over the tribunal proceedings, has not yet been established. This delay has raised serious doubts about whether the adjudication process can commence within the stipulated timeframe, directly impacting the fate of the 23.4 lakh voters seeking recourse.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding whether tribunals will become functional by Monday, government offices witnessed continued crowds of people attempting to file appeals on Saturday. Many were reportedly turned away and instructed to return with documents they had already submitted during the enumeration phase of the Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls.
Confusion and Contradictions in Appeal Process
On Friday, officials cited a "government holiday" and "other poll-related duties" as reasons for not accepting appeals. On Saturday, voters were informed that their requests could not be processed because they had not brought supporting documents along with formal applications.
This requirement contradicts previous statements from senior EC officials last month, who had explicitly stated that no additional documents would be necessary for those submitting offline appeals.
Official Response and Current Status
Meanwhile, in a release issued on Saturday, the Chief Electoral Officer's office reported that approximately 8,000 appeals under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act had been submitted. These appeals have been forwarded to the concerned district magistrates for necessary action.
The situation remains fluid as the deadline approaches, with thousands of voters anxiously awaiting clarity on whether their appeals will be heard before their voting rights are permanently affected for the upcoming election phase.
