Election Commission affidavit lacks detailed Bengal SIR appeal breakdown, raising transparency concerns over West Bengal voter list changes for 2024 polls.
Missing data in Election Commission filing sparks scrutiny
The Election Commission of India has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court that fails to provide a detailed break‑up of appeals related to the Special Investigation Report (SIR) in West Bengal. The document, intended to clarify how many names were included or excluded from the voter list, instead leaves a critical gap in transparency.
Key figures from the affidavit
- Total appeals filed: 38.20 lakh
- Appeals disposed of: 1.02 lakh
- Pending appeals: Over 37 lakh
According to the affidavit, the Commission has processed just over one lakh of the nearly four million appeals, but it does not specify how many of those were for inclusion of names and how many for exclusion. The omission has drawn attention from legal experts and opposition parties, who argue that the lack of granular data hampers the ability to assess the fairness of the electoral process in the state.
Supreme Court review underway
The Supreme Court is currently examining the affidavit as part of a broader petition seeking clarity on voter roll management in Bengal. Justices have indicated that further details may be required before the court can rule on the adequacy of the Commission's response.
Political analysts note that the SIR, which investigates alleged irregularities in voter registration, has been a contentious issue since the 2021 assembly elections. The absence of a clear breakdown in the affidavit could fuel accusations of selective processing of appeals, potentially influencing public confidence in the electoral system.
The Election Commission has yet to issue a supplementary statement addressing the missing data. Observers await whether the Commission will voluntarily provide the requested breakdown or if the court will mandate its disclosure.
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