The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals whose appeals against exclusion from the electoral rolls in West Bengal are still pending cannot vote in the upcoming elections.
The court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, warned that granting voting rights to those whose eligibility remains under adjudication would lead to untenable consequences.
Over 34 lakh (3.4 million) appeals have been filed by individuals challenging their exclusion from the electoral rolls.
The court noted that as soon as an appeal is decided, registration officers could immediately amend the rolls, allowing such people to vote.
However, the bench pointed out that judicial intervention at this stage must not derail the statutory process already underway.
The court expressed confidence in the appellate tribunals, comprising former chief justices and senior high court judges, to complete the task within a reasonable timeframe and ensure due process.
