The Calcutta High Court Chief Justice, Sujoy Paul, will preside over a significant meeting to finalize the plan for appointing current and retired judicial officers to handle claims and objections arising from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The meeting, scheduled for Saturday, will include key officials such as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and the state Chief Secretary, Nandini Goswami, among others.
Following a directive from a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, the final voters’ list in West Bengal is set to be released on February 28, with cases of “logical discrepancies” to be referred to judicial officers for resolution. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was assured by the CEO of West Bengal that the final voters’ list would adhere to the schedule, with supplementary lists to follow based on judicial recommendations for the identified discrepancies.
The Supreme Court’s directive on appointing judicial officers for the revision exercise in West Bengal is seen by political observers as a significant move towards increased judicial involvement in the state’s procedural matters, particularly where political interests may overshadow other considerations. Opposition parties in West Bengal have criticized the apex court’s decision, claiming it reflects negatively on the state compared to other regions where similar exercises are ongoing without judicial oversight.
While revision exercises are also underway in Tamil Nadu and Kerala ahead of their respective Assembly polls, the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has been vocal in its opposition to the SIR, alleging ulterior motives by the Union Government and the BJP. In response to the apex court’s intervention, the party welcomed the impartial oversight by judicial officers appointed by the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice for handling all claims and objections related to the revision exercise.
Conversely, the BJP has alleged that the Trinamool Congress’ resistance to the SIR stems from a desire to protect the names of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya voters on the electoral list. The party views the involvement of judicial officers as a positive step towards ensuring fairness and transparency in the revision process.
