The Crossbill Team
Taking note of growing friction between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Supreme Court on Friday stepped in with fresh directions aimed at ensuring neutrality in the process.
The apex court asked the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to nominate serving as well as former judicial officers to examine claims and objections arising from the SIR exercise in the state. The direction came after the court observed an unfortunate blame game and trust deficit between the state administration and the poll panel.
“In order to ensure fairness in the adjudication of the genuineness of documents relied upon and consequential determination of inclusion or exclusion in the voter list and as agreed to by both sides, we are left hardly any option but to request the CJ of high court at Calcutta to spare some serving judicial officers along with former judicial officers at the rank of additional or district judges who can then in each district be requested to revisit/dispose of claims under the category of logical discrepancy,” the court ordered.
Earlier, on February 9, the top court had directed that at least one week more beyond 14 Feb shall be granted to the EROs/AEROs for completing the scrutiny of documents and for taking an appropriate decision. It clarified that the role of micro-observers and state government officials would be limited to assisting the EROs/AEROs in the decision-making process.
The court also directed the state Director General of Police to file a personal affidavit responding to the ECI’s allegations of inaction against alleged unlawful activities.
On February 4, while issuing notice in the matter, the apex court had asked the West Bengal government to furnish a list of Group B officers who could be spared for the SIR exercise. Appearing personally before the Supreme Court, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the state was being “targeted” by the Election Commission and that the SIR was intended to “bulldoze” the people of Bengal. She claimed the exercise focused only on deletion and not on inclusion of voters.
Previously, on January 19, the Supreme Court had issued a series of directions to the ECI to ensure transparent verification of individuals placed in the “logical discrepancy” list, acting on petitions filed by Trinamool Congress leaders who alleged procedural irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
The apex court asked the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to nominate serving as well as former judicial officers to examine claims and objections arising from the SIR exercise in the state. The direction came after the court observed an unfortunate blame game and trust deficit between the state administration and the poll panel.
“In order to ensure fairness in the adjudication of the genuineness of documents relied upon and consequential determination of inclusion or exclusion in the voter list and as agreed to by both sides, we are left hardly any option but to request the CJ of high court at Calcutta to spare some serving judicial officers along with former judicial officers at the rank of additional or district judges who can then in each district be requested to revisit/dispose of claims under the category of logical discrepancy,” the court ordered.
Earlier, on February 9, the top court had directed that at least one week more beyond 14 Feb shall be granted to the EROs/AEROs for completing the scrutiny of documents and for taking an appropriate decision. It clarified that the role of micro-observers and state government officials would be limited to assisting the EROs/AEROs in the decision-making process.
The court also directed the state Director General of Police to file a personal affidavit responding to the ECI’s allegations of inaction against alleged unlawful activities.
On February 4, while issuing notice in the matter, the apex court had asked the West Bengal government to furnish a list of Group B officers who could be spared for the SIR exercise. Appearing personally before the Supreme Court, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the state was being “targeted” by the Election Commission and that the SIR was intended to “bulldoze” the people of Bengal. She claimed the exercise focused only on deletion and not on inclusion of voters.
Previously, on January 19, the Supreme Court had issued a series of directions to the ECI to ensure transparent verification of individuals placed in the “logical discrepancy” list, acting on petitions filed by Trinamool Congress leaders who alleged procedural irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
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