3.4 million voters in Bengal will not be able to cast their votes, Supreme Court refuses to grant relief
The Supreme Court has refused to grant interim voting rights to voters whose names were removed from the electoral rolls under the SIR process.
Digital Desk, New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to grant interim voting rights to those whose names were deleted in the voter list correction process (SIR) and whose appeals are still pending before appellate tribunals.
During the proceedings, TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee said at least 16 lakh appeals have been filed and they should be allowed to vote in the two-phase assembly elections to be held later this month.
In response, CJI Justice Surya Kant said, “This is simply not possible. If we allow this, the voting rights of those involved will have to be suspended.”
Justice Joymalya Bagchi said there are 34 lakh appeals pending in the SIR process, adding that this data is clearly stated in the reports submitted by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
No new name will be included in the list before the elections – Commission
The Election Commission has already frozen the voter list of Bengal and no new names can be included in it before the elections unless the Supreme Court gives any direction in this regard, which did not happen today.