In an unprecedented move to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, the judiciary has taken several measures in the correction and verification of the voter lists process in West Bengal following a Supreme Court order.
This development follows a high-level meeting held at the Calcutta High Court, convened under the explicit orders of the Supreme Court to resolve ongoing political tensions and "logical discrepancies" in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
To eliminate any possibility of manipulation, a novel method has been introduced where judicial officers will personally provide the "final seal" of approval for voter entries. According to sources within the Election Commission, a sophisticated digital portal is being launched specifically for this purpose. This portal will serve as a secure gateway for judges to examine applicant documents and the field observations made by election officials.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office confirmed that a separate login ID will be created for each judge assigned to the task. Access to the portal will be strictly controlled through an OTP-based security system. Once logged in, the concerned judge will select their designated assembly constituency and drill down to the booth-level ‘Part Number.’ This will bring up a detailed list of voters whose status remains awaiting settlement or is flagged for discrepancies.
The digital interface provides the judiciary with two primary investigative layers. The first option allows judges to view the applicant’s original ‘Enumeration Form’ alongside any supporting documents submitted during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings. The second option provides a comprehensive audit trail, detailing the specific opinions and observations recorded by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Assistant ERO, Micro Observers, and Booth Level Officers (BLO) during the initial screening process.
After a thorough verification of both the documents and official remarks, the judge will render a final decision. While the portal features simple "Accept" or "Reject" buttons, the process requires a rigorous judicial standard; the system will not finalise the entry until the judge provides a detailed legal and logical explanation in a mandatory ‘Comment’ box.
Administrative circles believe this direct judicial oversight will effectively silence long-standing controversies regarding voter list inaccuracies. By adding this layer of active judicial scrutiny to document verification, the 2026 electoral process in West Bengal is set to enter a new chapter of transparency and accountability.
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