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Bengal SIR: 37 Lakh Cases to Take 12 Years for Decision, Raising Concerns on Voter Rights.
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News18•21-09-2026, 07:38
Bengal SIR: 37 Lakh Cases to Take 12 Years for Decision, Raising Concerns on Voter Rights.
- •Millions of voters excluded during West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) face deprivation of voting rights for over a decade.
- •Appellate Tribunals, formed on Supreme Court's directive, are progressing slowly, indicating over 12 years for final decisions on these names.
- •Election Commission's affidavit reveals only 1,26,194 applications disposed of in five months, with 37,05,235 cases still pending as of September 16.
- •At the current pace, even with seven-day work weeks, it will take approximately 146 months (12 years and 2 months) to clear the backlog.
- •EC requested increasing tribunals from 24 to 42 and allowing judicial officers to work from home to expedite case disposal, citing insufficient infrastructure.
Key Questions Answered
Even if tribunals work continuously seven days a week without holidays, it will take approximately 12 years and 2 months to fully resolve the over 37 lakh pending cases.
The Election Commission requested the Supreme Court to increase the number of Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal from 24 to 42 and to allow judicial officers to conduct hearings from home.
Since commencing work in mid-April, the tribunals have disposed of only 1,26,194 applications over a period of five months.
