4 days after Bengal roll freeze, tribunals to start hearings today

KOLKATA: The 19 appellate tribunals are set to begin hearing appeals for the inclusion or exclusion of electors at Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation in Kolkata from Monday, four days after the electoral roll for the second-phase Bengal assembly polls was frozen on Thursday.

The tribunals, constituted and notified by EC on March 20 following a Supreme Court order, have so far disposed of only four appeals that were specifically mentioned before SC.




Of 60 lakh cases under adjudication, a little over 27 lakh names have been excluded from the supplementary lists. Those affected can approach the tribunals for relief.

On Sunday, a team of retired judges, along with chief secretary Dushyant Nariala and Calcutta HC chief justice Sujoy Paul, visited the institute to review the arrangements. Sources said 119 computers have been installed, and around 200 micro-observers will oversee the process.

Each tribunal will be supported by 4-5 staff members who underwent training on Friday on document scrutiny and procedural requirements, an official said. Many people have been gathering on the Joka Institute campus to raise grievances.Also See: Veteran singer Asha Bhosle passes away at age 92 - Check Live Updates