ECI Tells Supreme Court Over 37 Lakh West Bengal SIR Appeals Remain Pending

The Election Commission of India told the Supreme Court that 37,05,235 appeals arising from West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls remain pending before appellate authorities, while 1,26,194 of 38,31,429 appeals have been decided.

What happened

The Election Commission of India told the Supreme Court that 37,05,235 appeals arising from West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls remain pending before appellate authorities, while 1,26,194 of 38,31,429 appeals have been decided. The figures were supplied in response to TMC MP Derek O'Brien's application seeking fresh elections in 31 Assembly constituencies. The ECI opposed that relief, arguing that election results must be challenged through election petitions under Article 329(b), and maintained that the revision did not affect electoral outcomes. The Supreme Court has not ordered fresh polls; the disclosure places the scale of unresolved electoral-roll appeals before it.

Legal significance

Holdings, observations, allegations and submissions are kept distinct. The legal effect is confined to the present development.

Practical consequence

Further consequences follow through the operative judicial, administrative or constitutional process described above.

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