The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked appellate tribunals dealing with voter appeals arising from West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process to speed up their work, with nearly 34 lakh appeals reportedly pending before the tribunals.

The court said the process of deciding the appeals cannot continue indefinitely and observed that it should not move so slowly that the next Assembly election arrives before the cases are resolved.

The matter came before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant after a petition raised concerns over the pace at which the tribunals were disposing of appeals filed by people whose names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise. 

34 Lakh Appeals Pending

The large number of pending cases has emerged as a key concern in the legal challenge surrounding West Bengal's voter-roll revision.

The appeals have been filed by individuals seeking reconsideration of decisions involving their names on the electoral rolls. The tribunals were established following directions from the Supreme Court to provide a mechanism for affected voters to challenge deletions.

Petitioner and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, represented by senior advocate Rauf Rahim, told the court that the progress in disposing of the appeals was "painfully slow" and required greater impetus.

SC Raises Concern Over Delay

The Supreme Court expressed concern over the pace of the proceedings but stopped short of imposing a specific deadline on the tribunals.

CJI Surya Kant indicated that the process needed to move considerably faster. The court's observation came in the context of the approaching electoral cycle and the need for appeals to be decided within a reasonable period.

The court stressed that the process could not become so prolonged that voters' appeals remained unresolved until another Assembly election was due. 

Why SIR Appeals Matter

The Special Intensive Revision exercise involves verification and revision of electoral rolls. During the process, names can be subjected to scrutiny, and people whose names are removed have the right to challenge such decisions through the prescribed mechanism.

For voters, the appeals are particularly significant because inclusion in the electoral roll determines their ability to exercise their franchise.

The large number of pending appeals has therefore become an important administrative and legal issue in the State.

Petition Seeks Faster Disposal

The petition before the Supreme Court highlighted the rate at which the tribunals were handling the appeals.

The petitioner argued that the existing pace could leave a substantial number of cases unresolved for a prolonged period. The court was asked to ensure that the appellate mechanism functions effectively and that affected voters are able to receive decisions within a reasonable timeframe.

The Supreme Court's response focused on the need for the tribunals to increase their disposal rate rather than setting a rigid deadline for every pending case. 

Electoral Roll Process Under Watch

The developments come amid continued political and legal attention on the electoral roll revision exercise in West Bengal.

The SIR process has generated debate over voter verification, deletions and the mechanisms available to people seeking restoration of their names.

With millions of appeals pending, the functioning of the tribunals is expected to remain under scrutiny.

The Supreme Court's latest direction puts the emphasis on quicker disposal while leaving the tribunals to determine the cases on their individual merits.