US EditionSupreme Court Asks for Special Tribunals to Hear Appeals of Voters Excluded in West Bengal SIR
The Supreme Court mandated appellate tribunals to address over 7 million voter inclusion appeals and ordered the Election Commission to support their operation.
- On March 10, 2026, the Supreme Court of India directed the Election Commission of India to notify an appellate tribunal in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
- Facing a reported trust deficit, the court noted petitions by Mamata Banerjee and All India Trinamool Congress MPs challenged West Bengal SIR amid 7 lakh cases processed of 63 lakh, with 57 lakh pending.
- The court directed the Election Commission of India to support judicial officers by creating login IDs, covering expenses, and deploying over 500 officers from West Bengal and around 200 from Odisha and Jharkhand.
- The bench sharply rebuked the petitioners, saying it was considering contempt proceedings and Justice Surya Kant noted doubts about claims from both sides, while senior counsel Menaka Guruswamy said petitioners did not intend to question judicial officers.
- Given the scale of exclusions reported on February 28, the court recalled its February 24 order that orders by judicial officers are not subject to appeal before any administrative or executive forum, emphasizing ongoing urgency.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Bengal SIR: SC orders formation of appellate tribunal of ex-HC judges for appeals against exclusions
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the formation of an appellate tribunal composed of former High Court chief justices and judges to hear appeals against exclusions from voter lists in West Bengal following a special intensive revision exercise in the state, Live Law reported.A person whose claim for inclusion in the electoral rolls has been rejected by a judicial officer can approach the appellate tribunal, Bar and Bench quoted court as sayi…
WB SIR: SC orders setting up of tribunals to hear appeals against exclusions
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) In a fresh set of directions, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered setting up of independent appellate tribunals, headed by former high court judges, to hear appeals against exclusions from voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The top court also issued a […]
Bengal SIR: SC directs EC to set up appellate tribunal to hear rejected applications
The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard a petition filed by Mamata Banerjee and other MPs of the All India Trinamool Congress challenging the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) process in West Bengal. During the hearing, the court directed the Election Commission of India to issue a notification, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, to set up an appellate tribunal. The tribunal will consist of a former Chief Justice and ot…
West Bengal SIR: Supreme Court orders Appellate Tribunals of former HC judges to hear exclusion appeals
Previously, the court had directed that judicial officers from West Bengal and neighbouring states handle SIR claims, amid a dispute between the state and the Election Commission of India
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