Archive · 19 Sep 2026
West Bengal SIR Leaves Over 37 Lakh Appeals Pending
West Bengal checked its voter list before the state Assembly election.
Many people and groups challenged decisions about adding or removing names.
The Election Commission said more than 38 lakh appeals had been filed.
Only about 1 lakh had been decided, leaving more than 37 lakh waiting.
The Commission did not clearly separate appeals by people whose names were deleted from appeals challenging added names.
A court had also been told that about 7 lakh appeals involved deletions and 31 lakh involved inclusions, but that breakdown was not included in the latest affidavit.
The Supreme Court said cases involving deleted voters may need faster hearings because losing a voter name can mean losing the right to vote.
About 700 judicial officers and 19 tribunals are handling the process.
Critics say delays and incomplete data make it difficult to judge whether the revision treated voters fairly.
The Election Commission reported 38,20,683 appeals against electoral-roll inclusions and deletions in West Bengal.
Only 1,02,231 appeals had been disposed of, leaving 37,18,452 pending—about 2.6% decided.
The latest affidavit did not provide a formal breakdown between appeals seeking restoration of deleted names and challenges to included names.
From December 17, 2025, to August 7, 2026, 34.13 lakh Form 6 and 6.39 lakh Form 7 applications were filed.
Nineteen tribunals headed by retired High Court judges began hearing appeals on April 13 after Supreme Court directions.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India, the Supreme Court of India, West Bengal Congress leader Prasenjit Bose, voters, objectors, judicial officers and appellate tribunals.
- What
- The Election Commission disclosed that most appeals against electoral-roll changes made during West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision remain pending.
- When
- The reported appeal data covered the period through August 7, 2026; the latest counter-affidavit was filed in September after tribunals began functioning on April 13.
- Where
- West Bengal, India, with the matter being examined by the Supreme Court of India.
- Why
- The appeals followed the deletion and inclusion of names during the Special Intensive Revision, while the Supreme Court sought faster disposal and clearer information about the cases.
Voter-Rights and Transparency Concerns
Election Commission and Process Response
Breakdown of appeals
Voter-Rights and Transparency Concerns
Prasenjit Bose and other critics say the Commission should identify how many appeals were filed by deleted voters seeking restoration and how many challenged the inclusion of names.
Election Commission and Process Response
The Commission’s latest affidavit reported aggregate totals but did not include that formal classification. A separate account of an August 25 hearing said about 7 lakh appeals concerned deletions and 31 lakh challenged inclusions.
Priority for deletion cases
Voter-Rights and Transparency Concerns
The Supreme Court indicated that appeals against deletion could receive priority because exclusion directly affects an individual’s voting right.
Election Commission and Process Response
The Commission has provided tribunals and judicial officers to process the cases, while the court is considering how the appeal system should be streamlined and whether more tribunals are needed.
Fairness and speed
Voter-Rights and Transparency Concerns
Critics argue that the low disposal rate and incomplete data make it difficult to determine whether deleted voters are receiving a fair and timely opportunity to appeal.
Election Commission and Process Response
The revision involved around 700 judicial officers, 19 appellate tribunals and court-directed measures, including out-of-turn hearings for people making urgent cases against deletion.
- Total appeals
- 38,20,683 appeals were filed against orders related to the Special Intensive Revision.
- Disposed and pending
- 1,02,231 appeals were disposed of and 37,18,452 remained pending.
- Reported disposal rate
- Approximately 2.6% of the appeals had been decided.
- Electoral-roll decisions
- Judicial officers’ orders resulted in deletion of 27.16 lakh names and inclusion of 32.9 lakh names, according to the reports.
- Form 6 applications
- 34.13 lakh applications were filed between December 17, 2025, and August 7, 2026; 4.86 lakh were unprocessed, 7.26 lakh rejected and 14,079 accepted.
- Form 7 applications
- 6.39 lakh applications seeking deletions were filed; 14,506 were rejected and 3,355 accepted.
- Appeal mechanism
- Nineteen tribunals headed by retired or former High Court judges were constituted, with approximately 700 judicial officers involved in the broader process.
Sources
Bengal SIR: 5 months on, only 1 lakh of 38 lakh voter appeals disposed of so far
EC says only 2.6% Bengal SIR appeals decided: Report
Over 37 Lakh Bengal SIR Appeals Pending: EC
Over 37 lakh electoral roll appeals pending in West Bengal
Missing in Election Commission affidavit: Break-up of Bengal SIR appeals for inclusion, exclusion of names
