New Delhi, April 14
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear a petition challenging the removal of names from electoral rolls in West Bengal, calling the case “premature” ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the petitioners should first pursue remedies through designated appellate tribunals.
The case was brought by 13 individuals who alleged that the Election Commission removed voter names without due process during an electoral roll revision and that appeals were not being heard quickly enough.
The court noted that multiple tribunals, set up under the supervision of the Calcutta High Court, are already handling such complaints. However, it acknowledged the scale of the challenge, with millions of appeals pending and each tribunal managing a heavy caseload.
During the hearing, the judges stressed the importance of safeguarding voting rights, describing participation in elections as both a constitutional and deeply personal aspect of democracy. At the same time, they cautioned against disrupting the electoral process at a crucial stage.
The bench said courts should facilitate, not obstruct, elections unless there is clear evidence of widespread exclusion affecting the outcome.
Assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled for two phases later this month.
