Supreme Court invokes Article 142; race against time in over 34 lakh appeals from Bengal’s voters
The Supreme Court of India invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to address a crisis involving over 34 lakh pending appeals from voters excluded in West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
This intervention came amid disputes over voter deletions and objections during the SIR process, with around 60 lakh total objections leading to 34 lakh appeals before 19 special appellate tribunals staffed by judicial officers from West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasized voting as a fundamental constitutional right, refusing to let procedural delays disenfranchise eligible citizens.
The court directed the Election Commission to issue supplementary revised electoral rolls for voters cleared by tribunals—by April 21 for the first polling phase on April 23, and by April 27 for the second phase on April 29—ensuring their inclusion without broader timelines that might pressure officials. Article 142 was specifically invoked to deliver “complete justice,” similar to past uses in cases like Bhopal gas tragedy compensation or Chandigarh mayor poll nullification.
This order balances electoral purity with fairness, protecting appeals involving diverse groups like army families and artist descendants, while upholding transparency to avert potential unrest. It highlights the court’s role in high-stakes polls, where over 34 lakh cases created a “race against time.”
