New Delhi, April 7: The Supreme Court refused on Monday to set a deadline for the 19 appellate tribunals tasked with hearing appeals from 20 lakh people excluded from West Bengal’s voter lists. The Bench emphasized that the necessity of “freezing” the electoral rolls for the upcoming elections outweighs the implementation of a rushed adjudicatory timeline.
During the proceedings, the Court directed Suprabuddhe Sen, the 88-year-old grandson of artist Nandalal Bose, to approach the appellate tribunal after his name was removed during the intensive revision. To ensure consistency across the 19 tribunals, which are comprised of former judges, the Chief Justice of India requested the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice to establish a three-member panel to frame uniform procedures.
Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal Government, maintained that the tribunals should consider passing interim orders for those appearing to be wrongly excluded, citing the limited time available. However, the Bench asserted that the appeal is a process of natural justice that cannot be forced. “Appeal is an adjudicatory process on natural justice… appeals will cross lakhs… 19 tribunals put on a deadline will create chaos,” the Court declared.
The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, raised concerns regarding the security of judicial officers, noting a report of an officer who feared for her life while performing her duties. The Court stated that the state machinery must ensure the safety of these officials, warning of further measures if protection is not guaranteed.
Senior counsel Shyam Divan affirmed that the high exclusion rate remained a primary concern for the petitioners. He noted that approximately 20 lakh individuals remained off the lists following the disposal of 60 lakh initial cases. Despite these figures, the Bench maintained its stance on allowing the tribunals to function at a manageable pace, stating, “We will leave it to the appellate tribunals.”
