VoterList – Supreme Court Hears Challenge to West Bengal Voter List Revision
VoterList – The Supreme Court on Tuesday took up a crucial matter concerning the Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in West Bengal, a process that has sparked political and administrative debate in the state. The hearing assumes added significance as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was personally present in court, closely following the proceedings alongside senior lawyers representing her side.
The case is being heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice Suryakant, with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi as the other members. The petition questions the manner and timing of the voter list revision ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Court’s Observations During the Hearing
During the course of the hearing, the Chief Justice noted that he had received inputs from two fellow judges from West Bengal regarding the ground-level implementation of the process. According to the court, these judges had explained the procedure related to the issuance of residence certificates and other documents, which helped the bench understand the practical challenges involved. Based on this understanding, the issue was taken up for detailed consideration.
The bench indicated that the matter involves both administrative efficiency and the protection of citizens’ voting rights, making it necessary to carefully examine the concerns raised.
State Government Flags Procedural Gaps
Appearing for the West Bengal government, senior advocate Shyam Divan submitted that the court had earlier directed the authorities to place a list of logical discrepancies on record. He urged the bench to consider the brief note filed by the petitioners, pointing out that only four days remain to complete the ongoing revision process.
Divan emphasized that the limited timeframe has intensified the difficulties faced by both officials and voters, raising questions about the feasibility and fairness of the exercise.
Millions of Voters Allegedly Affected
Placing figures before the court, the state government claimed that nearly 3.2 million voters have not been listed so far. In addition, around 13.6 million names have reportedly been placed in a category marked by “logical discrepancies.” The petition further stated that hearings in nearly 6.3 million cases are still pending.
The counsel also highlighted the appointment of 8,300 micro-observers for the process, arguing that such a category does not find clear mention under the constitutional framework governing elections.
Rejection of Documents Raises Concerns
Another key issue raised was the alleged rejection of commonly accepted documents. According to the petitioners, valid documents such as residence certificates, Aadhaar cards, and OBC certificates are being refused during verification. This, they argued, has forced citizens to stand in queues for four to five hours, causing undue hardship, especially to elderly voters and daily wage earners.
The state government contended that these practical difficulties undermine public confidence in the revision process.
Demand to Quash Election Commission Orders
In her petition, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sought the cancellation of all orders and directions issued by the Election Commission on June 24, 2025, and October 27, 2025, related to the Special Intensive Revision. She has also requested the court to direct that the forthcoming Assembly elections be conducted on the basis of the unchanged 2025 voter list.
The plea argues that the current revision process relies heavily on a base list prepared in 2002 and involves a verification mechanism that is excessively rigid.
Alleged Threat to Voting Rights
The petition maintains that the dependence on an old base list, combined with stringent verification norms, poses a serious risk to the voting rights of genuine electors. According to the state, eligible voters may be excluded despite possessing valid credentials, which could have wider implications for the democratic process.
TMC MPs’ Petitions Also Listed
As per the Supreme Court’s cause list, the same bench is also scheduled to hear three petitions filed by Trinamool Congress MPs Mostari Banu, Derek O’Brien, and Dola Sen. These petitions raise similar concerns regarding the voter list revision. Apart from these, a separate petition filed individually by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also before the court.
The outcome of the hearing is expected to have a significant bearing on the conduct of elections in West Bengal and on the broader debate around electoral roll revisions.