Why is the role of SIR tribunals in West Bengal under scrutiny | Explained

Why are the Special Intensive Revision tribunals in West Bengal under scrutiny?

The tribunals are under scrutiny because they are deciding whether voters should be included in or excluded from West Bengal’s electoral rolls, yet cases are moving very slowly. About 37 lakh electors are still waiting for decisions, months after the SIR process and assembly elections.

The Election Commission set up 19 tribunals on March 20, 2026, with retired Calcutta High Court judges. By September 18, only 1,02,231 of 38,20,683 appeals had been disposed of. More than 22 lakh appeals challenge voter deletions, while others concern inclusions.

The judges reported that the ECINET portal could not properly serve notices, collect additional documents or restore disposed cases. Some judges have resigned or sought to leave, citing personal reasons. The backlog leaves many voters uncertain about their electoral status, while officials still have not clarified how pending cases fit into a fresh enrolment drive.

What is an SIR tribunal, and what does it decide about a voter’s name on the electoral roll?

An SIR tribunal is a body created to hear appeals arising from the Special Intensive Revision of West Bengal’s electoral rolls. The tribunals examine disputes over whether voters were wrongly deleted or whether names were included without proper knowledge or consent. Their decisions can affect a person’s place on the voter list.

The Election Commission established 19 tribunals on March 20, 2026. They comprise retired judges of the Calcutta High Court. Appeals cover both exclusions and inclusions. For example, more than 22 lakh voters appealed after their names were struck off, while another 16 lakh appeals challenged inclusions.

The tribunals therefore serve as a review mechanism for disputed voter-roll changes. Their work matters because a pending appeal leaves an elector’s status uncertain. The article reports that 37,18,452 appeals were still pending on September 18, while only 1,02,231 had been resolved.

How many appeals are still pending before the 19 tribunals, and how many have been disposed of?

The backlog before West Bengal’s 19 SIR tribunals stood at 37,18,452 pending appeals, according to the Election Commission’s affidavit to the Supreme Court. These appeals concern both voters whose names were removed and people challenging disputed inclusions.

In total, 38,20,683 appeals were submitted during the SIR exercise. Of these, only 1,02,231 had been disposed of by September 18. That means the tribunals had resolved only a small part of their workload, leaving almost all appellants waiting for decisions.

The figures show the scale of the administrative and judicial challenge. More than 22 lakh appeals were filed against deletions, including names removed under the category of “logical discrepancies.” Another 16 lakh appeals concerned inclusions. The unresolved cases affect voters’ certainty about their electoral-roll status and remain relevant to any future enrolment process.

Why have the tribunals been processing cases so slowly?

The tribunals have processed cases slowly because their digital and physical working arrangements are not functioning smoothly. Judges said the ECINET portal lacked a proper system for serving notices, obtaining additional documents and restoring cases after disposal. These gaps can delay hearings and make case management difficult.

Minutes from an August 11 meeting recorded that most tribunal judges complained about the portal. Once an appeal was disposed of through inclusion or deletion, it could not be restored on the system. Judges also questioned the location at Joka, suggesting that another venue would be more convenient.

The strain is visible in the results. Six months after the tribunals were established, only about one lakh of 38 lakh applications had been disposed of, a rate of roughly 3%. Two judges stepped down, and another sought to discontinue work, although the article records personal reasons. The backlog therefore remains substantial.

What could happen to voters whose cases remain unresolved when West Bengal holds its civic elections?

Voters whose cases remain unresolved would continue to face uncertainty about whether their names are validly present on the electoral roll. The article does not specify a separate rule or definite consequence for West Bengal’s civic elections. It does state that the fate of about 37 lakh electors remains before the SIR tribunals.

This uncertainty affects people on both sides of the dispute. More than 22 lakh voters are appealing deletions, while another 16 lakh appeals challenge inclusions. Until cases are decided, the article does not establish whether each appellant’s name will be available for voting in a particular election.

The problem is sharper because the Chief Electoral Officer’s Form 6 notice does not explain how pending tribunal cases will be handled. The State’s Chief Electoral Officer has asked the Election Commission for clarification. Until that guidance arrives and cases are decided, affected electors may not know what step protects their voting status.

Can voters deleted during the SIR process reapply through Form 6, and does that option cover people whose appeals are still pending?

The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal said eligible voters deleted during the Special Intensive Revision can seek restoration through Form 6. They may submit the form online or through a Booth Level Officer. The option is aimed at eligible people left out of the current electoral roll.

The notice points to the list of Absentee, Shifted, Dead and Deleted voters from SIR 2026. The Election Commission also directed relevant Chief Electoral Officers to compare pre-SIR and current rolls and enrol eligible people left out during the process within one month. This creates a fresh route for some deleted voters.

But the notice is silent about the 37 lakh electors whose appeals are pending before tribunals. The State’s Chief Electoral Officer has therefore asked the Election Commission whether those voters can be considered in the re-enrolment drive. The article provides no answer yet, so coverage of pending appellants remains unresolved.

How does maintaining an electoral roll protect the basic democratic principle that eligible citizens should be able to vote?

An electoral roll is the record used to establish which people are registered to vote. Maintaining it accurately helps ensure that eligible citizens are not shut out and that disputed names can be reviewed. That makes the roll central to the practical exercise of the right to vote.

West Bengal’s SIR illustrates the stakes. Nearly 91 lakh voters were deleted from the rolls, and 27 lakh names were removed after being placed in the category of “logical discrepancies.” More than 22 lakh voters appealed their deletions. Another 16 lakh appeals challenged inclusions made without the electors’ knowledge, according to the article.

When appeals remain unresolved, people may not know whether their names will be available for an election. The 37 lakh pending cases therefore represent more than an administrative backlog. They leave the connection between eligible citizens and the electoral roll unsettled, while officials seek clarity about re-enrolment through Form 6.

Key Facts:

📌 Nearly 37 lakh appeals remain pending before 19 SIR tribunals.

📌 Only 1,02,231 appeals had been disposed of by September 18.

📌 Judges reported serious problems with the ECINET portal.

📌 SIR tribunals were set up to hear voter-roll inclusion and exclusion appeals.

📌 The 19 tribunals comprise retired judges of the Calcutta High Court.

📌 Tribunals review disputed changes made during West Bengal’s SIR.

📌 37,18,452 appeals were pending before the 19 tribunals.