Supreme Court Backs Bengal Electoral Roll Revision
The Supreme Court has stepped in to assist the Election Commission of India in West Bengal amid concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, directing the state government to provide adequate officers to support the process. The development comes as political parties raise questions over claims linked to large-scale voter enrolment.
Supreme Court Directs Support For Bengal SIR
The Supreme Court directed the West Bengal government to ensure sufficient administrative support for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls being undertaken by the Election Commission. The poll body informed the court that it required around 250 officers to complete the revision exercise efficiently.
The court emphasised the importance of timely electoral roll verification, especially with elections approaching, and said administrative cooperation was necessary to maintain the integrity of the process.
50 Lakh Claims In Bengal Electoral Roll Revision
During proceedings, it was highlighted that nearly 50 lakh claims and objections had been received as part of the revision exercise. The large volume of applications has increased the workload on election officials, prompting the Commission to seek additional manpower.
The Election Commission maintained that the revision was being conducted as per established norms and aimed at ensuring accuracy in the voter list.
Judiciary Intervention In Election Administration
The court’s involvement underscores the constitutional mandate to safeguard free and fair elections. While political parties have raised concerns about the scale of revisions, the Commission has reiterated that the exercise is procedural and legally mandated.
The state government is expected to coordinate with the Election Commission to facilitate the deployment of officers. The matter remains under judicial scrutiny as the revision process continues.
