SIR: Kolkata appellate tribunal ‘nearly ready’ for voter deletion appeals

Kolkata: The appellate tribunal office in Kolkata is nearly ready, clearing the way for hearings on voter deletion appeals to begin soon. Nineteen retired judges will preside over the tribunal, which will operate from the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee – National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) in Joka under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The retired judges will examine documents submitted by voters who have appealed to the tribunal after their names were struck off following adjudication by around 700 judicial officers involved in the process. Each judge will be assisted by four to five staff members for document verification and case processing.

Among 60,06,675 voters who were placed under-adjudication, 27,16,393 names have been struck off. The tribunal will hear petitions from voters whose names have been deleted from the electoral rolls and who have filed appeals before it. Election Commission sources said the support staff were given detailed training on Friday on how to assist the judges in scrutinising documents and disposing of petitions.

Among those joining the tribunal is Justice Manjula Chellur, the first woman judge of the Calcutta High Court and a former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. Sources, however, said a few retired judges empanelled for the tribunal have sought exemption from duty.

A team comprising retired judges assigned to the tribunal, along with senior officials from the state CEO’s office are scheduled to inspect the premises on Sunday. A decision on the formal commencement of hearings is likely to be taken after that visit.

Meanwhile, following a Supreme Court directive, Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul has already constituted a three-member committee to frame the procedure that the tribunal judges will follow while disposing of appeals.

As of now, voters will not need to be physically present at the Kolkata tribunal office to file appeals. Applications are being accepted online through the ECINet mobile app or the Election Commission’s website. Alternatively, voters are also filing petitions through the offices of the concerned District Magistrates or Sub-Divisional Officers.