In a major directive, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that eligible voters whose names were wrongly excluded are included in a supplementary revised electoral roll. The Court said that if the Appellate Tribunal approves an appeal and gives a final order to include or remove a name, that order must be implemented before polling begins in West Bengal on April 23 and April 29.
SC Directs ECI To Implement Appellate Tribunal Orders
The apex Court called it necessary to protect the right to vote during the upcoming elections in the state. A bench led by CJI Surya Kant also clarified that merely having an appeal pending before the Appellate Tribunal will not make a person eligible to vote. Only those whose exclusion claims are approved before polling will be added to the revised list and allowed to vote.
“We, therefore, invoke our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India and direct the ECI that wherever the Appellate Tribunals are able to decide the appeals by 21.04.2026 or 27.04.2026, as the case may be, such appellate orders shall be given effect to by issuing a supplementary revised electoral roll, and all necessary consequences with respect to the right to vote shall follow,” the top Court observed, as reported by LiveLaw.
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The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that wherever claims of excluded voters are allowed by the Appellate Tribunals before the polling dates between April 23 and 29, their names are incorporated in a supplementary revised electoral roll…
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2026
"However, it goes without saying that the mere pendency of appeals preferred by excluded persons before the Appellate Tribunals shall not entitle them to exercise their right to vote, " the Court added. The order was passed on Monday during a hearing in West Bengal Special Intensive Revision (SIR) matters. However, the order was uploaded on Thursday afternoon.
CM Mamata Banerjee Expresses Happiness
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed happiness over the Court's verdict. Addressing the media Cooch Behar, she said that she is proud of the country's judicial system and has ordered TMC workers to help people during the process. “Congratulations to everyone. I was saying from the beginning that the victory will be ours. I asked voters whose names were deleted to be patient. I am very happy and proud of the country's judicial system. Remember, it was I who approached the Supreme Court in the matter. So today, no one is happier than me,” Banerjee said.
"The party workers will have to see to it that voter slips are prepared for those whose names will be settled by the Appellate Tribunals. The voters' slips should definitely reach all of them before the elections," she added.