WB SIR: SC Seeks Progress Report On Appeal Hearings; Plans Fast-Tracking Cases Of Voter Exclusions (File Image) New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has urged the Supreme Court to increase the number of appellate tribunals adjudicating appeals against exclusions and inclusions in West Bengal voter list after the SIR exercise from present 19 to 42 to “facilitate expeditious disposal of the pending appeals” This is after data revealed sluggish pace of functioning of these tribunals. Of 38.20 lakh appeals filed so far, 19 tribunals disposed of just 1.02 lakh appeals in six months ever since it began functioning. “With a view to further streamline and expedite the disposal of the pending appeals, it is proposed that the number of Appellate Tribunals in the State of West Bengal may be considered for increase to correspond with the number of Parliamentary Constituencies in the State, so as to facilitate expeditious disposal of the pending appeals.”, said ECI’s affidavit filed in response to petition in Supreme Court filed by TMC MP Derek O Brien challenging the SIR process ECI says as a further measure to facilitate expeditious disposal of the pending appeals, court may ensure that software developed by the Commission is location-agnostic which enables the Learned Judicial Officers presiding over the Appellate Tribunals to conduct hearings and undertake other proceedings from anywhere, including from their respective places of residence, wherever considered appropriate. “Such a mechanism would facilitate the conduct of hearings without requiring the Learned Judicial Officers to be physically present at a designated Tribunal location and would, consequently, assist in expediting the disposal of pending appeals by minimizing the time lost in conveyance.”, it adds Data in the affidavit also revealed that around 93% ( of 1,26,194 appeals decided so far ) have won their appeals and have been re-included in the voter rolls. However 8,649 of 1.2 lakh lost their appeal and will be deleted. Of 27 lakh deleted following the West Bengal SIR exercise, 22, 21,118 have filed appeals. Total number of appeals against inclusion filed by private objectors and ECI are 16,10,311 In his petition TMC MP Derek O Brien had sought judicial intervention to challenge the orders and guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) directing the SIR process. The petition accused the ECI of acting arbitrarily and using informal, extra-statutory channels—such as WhatsApp messages and oral directions—to instruct booth-level officers instead of relying on formal written instructions Earlier ECI filed a similar affidavit on petition filed by WB Congress leader Prasenjit Bose seeking directions to ECI to disclose constituency-wise data on additions and deletions made during the SIR in West Bengal. Bose, through his petition filed by SC Advocate-On-Record Neha Rathi has also sought directions to make public the standard operating procedure governing appeals before appellate tribunals. Bose argued that there are no publicly available guidelines on appeals, documentation requirements, notices, hearings or timelines for disposal of cases. Harish V Nair is Senior Editor (Legal) with Times Now TV. In his journalism career spanning 20 years, he has specialised in coverage of Supreme Court ... View More