In Brief
- About 19,000 West Bengal voters face exclusion from bypolls due to pending appeals.
- Only 16 of 19 Election Commission appellate tribunals remain functional in West Bengal.
- Three retired judges resigned citing operational challenges.
- Their tribunal positions remain vacant, delaying appeal resolutions further.
Nearly 19,000 voters in West Bengal are at risk of missing crucial bypolls as their appeals remain unaddressed in the state's appellate tribunals. These tribunals were established by the Election Commission in March to handle voter-related grievances efficiently.
Out of 19 tribunals set up, only 16 are currently functional. The three tribunals became vacant after the resignation of retired judges Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, Justice Ranjit Bag, and Justice Indrajit Chatterjee. They cited various functional issues as reasons for their departure.
The absence of these judges has left their posts unfilled, contributing to the slow progress of hearing appeals. As a result, thousands of voters are left in limbo, uncertain of their ability to participate in the forthcoming by-elections.
The Election Commission has been urged to expedite filling the vacancies and address operational concerns to ensure that electoral rights of all eligible voters are protected.
