The Supreme Court refused an urgent hearing on a PIL challenging two West Bengal government actions linking welfare benefits to the Election Commission’s electoral roll revision. The petitioner, seeking immediate attention, was advised by Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi to approach the Calcutta High Court for relief. The PIL questions the validity of government orders affecting food security benefits and Annapurna Yojana beneficiaries.
The petition argues that the measures could lead to the exclusion of economically vulnerable individuals from welfare schemes. It highlights potential deactivation of ration cards for millions of living persons due to voter-list matching. The plea also alleges a violation of the National Food Security Act’s objectives and principles of natural justice.
Referring to a recent Supreme Court judgment upholding the electoral roll revision exercise, the petition emphasizes that deletion from rolls during the process does not determine citizenship. The Court had ruled that the revision aimed to maintain electoral process integrity and did not breach statutory provisions. Any citizenship inquiries during the exercise were specified to be for electoral purposes only.
