In a significant move for electoral transparency in West Bengal, the Supreme Court has mandated the establishment of an appellate tribunal. This body will consist of former High Court chief justices and judges, specifically tasked with hearing appeals from individuals whose requests for inclusion in the voter lists were denied after a recent intensive revision exercise.

The directive came during a hearing on Tuesday, where the bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed concerns over the absence of an independent mechanism to address grievances related to exclusion from electoral rolls. The court emphasized that any person denied the opportunity to be part of the electoral rolls by a judicial officer can now seek redress from this newly formed tribunal.

Interestingly, this order builds on a previous ruling from February 24, which stated that decisions made by judicial officers concerning voter inclusion would not be subject to appeal in any executive or administrative forum. This indicates a shift towards providing individuals with a fair channel for challenging such decisions, something that has been much-needed as complaints regarding electoral roll revisions have surfaced.

The Supreme Court also made clear that the Election Commission would be responsible for covering the operational costs of this appellate body, including honorariums for the participating judicial officers. This move was welcomed as it ensures that the tribunal can operate effectively without financial constraints.

During the proceedings, the court took a moment to question some petitioners about their criticisms directed at the judicial officers’ competencies. Chief Justice Kant remarked that such applications appeared premature, indicating a need for more constructive dialogue rather than mere criticism.