A division bench of the Calcutta High Court has requested a report from the West Bengal government regarding the arrangements made for offering free ration and Annapurna Yojana benefits to individuals excluded from the voters’ list during the Special Intensive Revision conducted by the Election Commission of India. Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, a trade union in the state, filed a PIL alleging that individuals whose names were removed during the revision process are being denied these entitlements.
The High Court’s division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, heard the matter. The state government has been instructed to provide a detailed report on its stance by July 21. The newly appointed advocate general, Surajit Nath Mitra, highlighted the need for an investigation to ascertain the impacted individuals and the denial of benefits under the Annapurna Yojana.
The petitioner’s counsel raised concerns about a recent state government notification using SIR data to determine ration and Annapurna Yojana beneficiaries. There are fears that this decision may lead to the exclusion of marginalized groups from essential government support. Following arguments from both sides, the division bench directed the state government to submit its observations by the specified date.
