India's Supreme Court directed petitioners, including 65 on election duty in West Bengal whose names were deleted from the voter list after Special Intensive Revision (SIR), to approach appellate tribunals. The court refused their plea for immediate voting rights. It also praised the record 92.88% turnout and peaceful polling in the first phase.
A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi on Friday directed several petitioners, including 65 on poll duty in West Bengal whose names were deleted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, to approach appellate tribunals.
Senior Advocate M R Shamshad, representing the petitioners, highlighted the irony, stating, “A person who is conducting the election can’t vote.” He noted that their duty orders initially included Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers, later deleted, without show-cause notices. Justice Bagchi responded, “This election, we understand. More valuable right to remain on the rolls, we will examine.”
The court refused to entertain pleas for immediate voting rights, noting appeals filed on April 5 remained unheard. In a related hearing, the bench hailed the 92.88% voter turnout in the first phase across 152 of 294 seats on Thursday, describing polling as largely peaceful.
“Individually, as a citizen of India, I am very happy to see the percentage of voting,” CJI Kant said. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta commended security forces for the historic turnout despite minor violence. The court granted liberty to approach the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court for urgent issues.