As the judicial adjudication process of voters’ documents with “logical discrepancies” begins in West Bengal near the India-Bangladesh border, judicial officers in four districts have requested enhanced security due to security breaches. The Supreme Court’s directive last week initiated this process, focusing on districts like Malda, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas, all sharing borders with Bangladesh. The Election Commission of India has acknowledged the concerns of these officers and instructed state police to ensure their safety.
Of the 50 lakh voters’ documents flagged for “logical discrepancies” and referred for judicial review, Murshidabad district has the highest number. However, the exact count is yet to be disclosed by the Commission. Judicial officers overseeing this process are required to justify their decisions of accepting or rejecting each document referred to them. They are also mandated to provide daily progress reports to the Calcutta High Court on the status of the adjudication.
The final electoral roll in West Bengal is scheduled for publication on February 28, excluding cases under judicial review. Once the adjudication is completed, supplementary electoral rolls will be issued, incorporating eligible voters cleared through this verification process. Concerns linger over whether the massive task of adjudicating around 50 lakh voters’ documents can be finished before the February 28 deadline. The Calcutta High Court is actively supervising this process following the Supreme Court’s directive for judicial oversight.
