New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear petitions challenging the Election Commission’s decision to freeze electoral rolls ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The poll panel finalised and froze the voter lists on April 9 for constituencies going to polls in the first phase. Assembly elections in the state will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, said it would take up the matter on April 13 after a lawyer sought urgent hearing. The plea argued that many appeals against deletion of names from the electoral rolls are still pending.
The Election Commission’s counsel, senior advocate D S Naidu, stated that the April 9 deadline has passed and no further changes can be made. He added that those whose appeals were accepted have already been treated fairly.
Justice Bagchi observed that while elections require a clear cut-off date, the constitutional right to be on the electoral roll and to vote is fundamental and long-term.
Earlier, the court noted that around 60 lakh claims and objections related to the Special Intensive Revision process had been addressed. It had also directed the formation of a panel to ensure uniform procedures in handling appeals related to voter list deletions.
