Supreme Court allows judges from other states for West Bengal voter list revision

In a significant intervention to ensure the timely completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the Supreme Court of India has authorized the deployment of additional judicial officers from neighboring states. The apex court, while hearing petitions related to the SIR process, permitted the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to requisition the services of civil judges with at least three years of experience, and if further human resources are deemed necessary, to approach the Chief Justices of Jharkhand and Odisha for serving or retired judicial officers of similar rank. The directive also mandated that the Election Commission of India (ECI) would bear all the expenses, including travel, honorarium, and other costs, associated with deploying judicial officers from outside West Bengal. The court's decision stems from the assessment that the existing judicial strength in West Bengal would require approximately 80 days to adjudicate the substantial backlog of around 50 lakh claims and objections, particularly those falling under the 'logical discrepancy/unmapped category.' This move addresses concerns about a potential 'trust deficit' between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission, a sentiment previously noted by the Supreme Court. The court has emphasized the need for transparency and efficiency in the electoral process, aiming to maintain the 'purity of elections.' Earlier, on February 20, the Supreme Court had already taken the extraordinary step of directing the Calcutta High Court to appoint serving and former judicial officers, in the rank of District Judges or Additional District Judges, to act as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) for adjudicating claims and objections. This ensured that critical decisions regarding voter list inclusions and exclusions were handled by judicial minds, especially in cases involving logical discrepancies. The Supreme Court also allowed the ECI to publish the final electoral roll on February 28, with the provision for supplementary lists to be issued on a continuous basis as the verification process progresses. Invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the court declared that voters identified and added through these supplementary lists would be deemed part of the final list published on February 28, thereby ensuring no eligible voter is disenfranchised due to the ongoing verification. The court's proactive approach aims to overcome procedural hurdles and potential political impediments to ensure a fair and comprehensive electoral roll ahead of the upcoming elections. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, reiterated the importance of addressing the concerns of all parties involved while upholding the integrity of the electoral process. The court also touched upon the use of Aadhaar cards as a valid identity document for verification, while noting that it is not proof of citizenship, and suggested that any concerns regarding the misuse of Aadhaar should be addressed through legislative amendments.

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