West Bengal voter roll revision: Limited window for appeals raises timeline concerns

NEW DELHI: Even though the first supplementary voters’ list was published on Monday in West Bengal based on adjudication of cases found ‘doubtful’ during special intensive revision (SIR), the window for filing appeals, based on electoral rules, by those aggrieved by exclusion and others objecting to electors’ inclusion may be rather small.

As per rules, the electoral roll is frozen on the last day of nomination. However, since an appeal process follows publication of final roll, seven days may be left for making appeals after publication of the supplementary lists, these being part of the final roll. Thus, the last of supplementary lists for West Bengal may need to be out by March 29 for Phase 1 and April 1 for Phase 2.




The 19 appellate tribunals set up EC on Friday, will therefore have only a few days to decide on the appeals, with April 6 and April 9 being the date on which the roll must be frozen for Phase 1 and Phase 2 respectively; unless, of course, the Supreme Court relaxes the rule.

Interestingly, it is not only those aggrieved by their exclusion from the supplementary roll who can file appeals before the tribunals. Any person can object to inclusion of an elector in the supplementary list, by attaching evidence and a signed declaration/oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Presenting false evidence or making a false declaration in connection with the electoral roll is, however, punishable with a term of up to three years under Section 227/229 of BNS and up to a year's imprisonment under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
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