In an RTI response to Congress MP Isha Khan Chowdhury, the Election Commission revealed that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) appellate tribunals in West Bengal have disposed of 82,782 appeals.

Of these processed cases, 91% (75,443 names) were restored to the state’s electoral list after successfully resolving their claims. Conversely, 8.86% (7,339 names) were officially excluded from the roll following tribunal reviews. The BJP had come to power recently after winning elections in which over 27 lakh voters were removed through a hasty SIR exercise.

Official data obtained via the Right to Information (RTI) Act has highlighted stark discrepancies in the electoral roll adjudication process.

According to the RTI response, 3,810,620 appeals were lodged against 2,728,500 voters classified as ‘Not Eligible’—a surplus of 1,082,120 appeals. MP Chowdhury noted these excess appeals were initiated by the Election Commission (EC) to exclude citizens who had already voted in the recent Assembly elections, demanding immediate clarification.

Congress leader Prasenjit Bose further revealed to the Supreme Court that state officials claim only 700,000 of the 2.7 million excluded electors actually managed to submit personal appeals. The remaining submissions originated from the EC or individual objectors.

Out of 82,782 appeals processed by appellate tribunals so far, 75,443 individuals (over 91 per cent) were successfully restored to the voter list.

Chowdhury argued this high rate of reinstatement raises serious doubts regarding the validity of initial deletions.

Beyond electoral disenfranchisement, affected citizens face distress, restricted international travel for work, and difficulties accessing government welfare benefits due to detention fears. Calls remain urgent for the EC to ensure transparent, accurate, and inclusive electoral rolls.