‘It’s only a bye-poll’: SC refuses to advance hearing of Bengal SIR appeals

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to advance the hearing of a case pertaining to the pending appeals against decisions taken during the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, reported Bar and Bench.

With bye-elections in the Rejinagar and Nandigram Assembly constituencies scheduled for October 6, a mention was made before a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant seeking an earlier hearing.

A counsel had verbally mentioned that the case had been listed for Tuesday but had not appeared on. the cause list.

“These are only bye-elections, that’s all,” Kant responded. The bench listed the matter for October 5.

The lawyer had also told the bench that if the pending appeals are not decided before the bye-polls, this would be “the second time these people would be missing out on their vote”, reported The Hindu.

He was referring to the Assembly elections held in the state on April 23 and April 29. By April 6, the Election Commission had removed about 91 lakh voters, nearly 11.9% of West Bengal’s electorate before the revision process began, from the electoral rolls.

Since that month, 19 appellate tribunals, set up after a Supreme Court order on March 10, have been hearing appeals against decisions taken during the voter roll revision.

On September 16, the Election Commission told the court...

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