3 weeks ago
Only 7 lakh of 27 lakh deleted Bengal voters appeal
In West Bengal, a big check was done on the list of people who can vote.
Many names were flagged because the details did not seem to match.
People were asked to come and show documents to prove they should stay on the list.
Out of 60 lakh people who were checked, close to 33 lakh were allowed to stay.
The other 27 lakh people were removed from the voting list.
Those people could ask a special court called a tribunal to put their names back.
The government says only about 7 lakh of them appealed, which is about one in four.
That means about 20 lakh people did not appeal, and officials say they do not know why.
Some helpers say they think more people applied and the government's number may be wrong.
The government says people who did not appeal will not get benefits from its schemes, and census workers will visit homes to check on voters.
Only about 7 lakh of the 27 lakh voters deleted from Bengal's electoral rolls during adjudication have appealed before the tribunals, a senior state government official said.
The figure, about 26 percent of those deleted, contradicts earlier reports of 32-34 lakh total appeals; officials said actual appeals exceeded 30 lakh, including more than 20 lakh filed by the Election Commission.
The Election Commission flagged 1.5 crore people for 'logical discrepancies,' 60 lakh failed to satisfy it with documents, and 705 judicial officers cleared close to 33 lakh while rejecting the rest.
Deleted voters had only a 15-day deadline to appeal, though sources said late appeals might be allowed on humanitarian grounds.
Social workers who helped file appeals doubted the 7 lakh figure, saying offline applications may not have been fully digitised, while officials said non-appellants would not receive government scheme benefits.
- Who
- West Bengal government officials, the Election Commission, 705 judicial officers, and the roughly 7 lakh deleted voters who appealed to the tribunals.
- What
- Only about 7 lakh of the 27 lakh Bengal voters deleted from electoral rolls have appealed to the appellate tribunals.
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- When
- Following the adjudication of 60 lakh cases and after district reports were compiled; the chief minister had spoken on the matter on August 1.
- Why
- Voters excluded for 'logical discrepancies' had a 15-day deadline to appeal for inclusion before the tribunals.
Government officials
Social workers
Number of appeals from deleted voters
Government officials
Only about 7 lakh of the 27 lakh deleted voters appealed, based on compiled reports from districts.
Social workers
Doubt that the 7 lakh figure is properly verified; lakhs applied online and offline and some offline applications may not have been digitised and sent to the tribunals.
Key facts
- Voters deleted from electoral rolls
- 27 lakh
- Deleted voters who appealed
- About 7 lakh (26%)
- Deleted voters who did not appeal
- About 20 lakh
- People flagged for 'logical discrepancies'
- 1.5 crore
- People who failed to satisfy the Election Commission
- 60 lakh
- Voters cleared for inclusion by adjudicators
- Close to 33 lakh
- Appellate tribunals set up by Calcutta High Court
- 19
- Appeal deadline
- 15 days from deletion
Quotes
Senior State Government Official
State government official who spoke to The Telegraph
“It has been found that only about 7 lakh of the 27 lakh voters excluded by the adjudicators for ‘logical discrepancies’ have appealed before the tribunals.”
telegraphindia.com
“Lakhs of people submitted their applications to the SDOs’ and DMs’ offices but were not given any receipt.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Related news
Bengal SIR Appeals Focus Supreme Court on Voter Roll Restorations
West Bengal Tribunals Restore 91% of Decided Electoral Appeals
SC directs EC on Bengal voter roll appeal data
Supreme Court seeks Bengal tribunal case disposal data from EC
Supreme Court Seeks West Bengal Electoral Appeals Data
SC says no timeline for Bengal voter deletion appeal tribunals
Supreme Court Questions IPS Deputation for CAPF Leadership Positions
Supreme Court Quashes 20-Year Conviction, Reaffirms Juvenile Legal Protections
Two Years After RG Kar Doctor's Rape-Murder, Case Remains Unresolved
ED widens Chhattisgarh probes with two arrests and searches
Delhi High Court Orders Madhya Pradesh to Pay Advocate Dues
