SC Intervenes in Bengal's Voter Purge: Orders Transparency and Fairness in Electoral Roll Revision

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In a significant move, the Supreme Court has stepped in to address the 'stress and strain' faced by ordinary voters in West Bengal's special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The court has issued binding directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make the process transparent, accessible, and voter-friendly. The SIR exercise has resulted in the deletion of names of over 70 million people from the electoral rolls across 12 states and Union territories. However, an analysis by Hindustan Times found that most of the deletions were in regions that have seen significant additions over the past decade and a half, suggesting a process of de-duplication. The Supreme Court has directed the ECI to publish the names of all persons issued notices over alleged discrepancies, including those citing 'logical discrepancies.' The lists must be displayed at panchayat and block offices to ensure transparency and public accountability. The court has also ordered that affected voters must be allowed to submit documents or objections with the assistance of one representative, who can be a relative, neighbour, or even a political party's booth-level agent, provided a signed or thumb-marked authority letter is produced. To reduce hardship and make the process more accessible, the court has directed that offices for submission of claims and objections be set up at panchayat bhavans or block offices. Election officials must issue written receipts or certifications acknowledging the submission of documents or the conduct of hearings. The court has also taken note of concerns over notices citing vague 'logical discrepancies,' pointing out that child marriages are not uncommon in India. The bench has asked the ECI to explain why a 15-year age gap between a mother and son is considered a logical discrepancy. The case has sparked a fierce political confrontation between the ECI and the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, which has alleged that the SIR exercise is a ploy to delete the names of legitimate voters ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The Supreme Court's intervention has been welcomed by the Trinamool Congress, with MP Abhishek Banerjee posting on X: 'The SC has rightly ordered that the names of those arbitrarily slapped with the vague, sinister label of ‘Logical Discrepancy’ must be publicly published.' The proceedings stem from applications moved by TMC MPs, who alleged that West Bengal's SIR process sharply departed from procedures followed in Bihar. They also objected to informal instructions allegedly issued via WhatsApp, restrictions on booth-level agent participation, and hearings being held at distant administrative centres.