Calcutta HC Ex-Judge's Name Removed from Voter List; TMC Alleges BJP Conspiracy
Ex-Judge Sahidullah Munshi's name removed after electoral roll adjudication.
Top Summary
- What happened: Sahidullah Munshi, ex-Calcutta High Court judge and current Board of Auqaf chairperson, had his name deleted from West Bengal's electoral roll after adjudication.
- Why it matters: Raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the voter list revision process ahead of elections.
- What changes for people: Affected individuals must appeal to tribunals to reinstate their names on the voter list.
- Who is affected: Potentially millions of voters whose names were flagged for adjudication after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Former Judge's Voter ID Deleted
Sahidullah Munshi, a former judge of the Calcutta High Court, experienced a shocking removal of his name from the voter list. This occurred after adjudication by judicial officers following the Election Commission of India's (ECI) publication of the final electoral roll.
The ECI's publication on February 28 showed 6.18 million names dropped, leaving 70.46 million voters in West Bengal.
Munshi served as a judge of the Calcutta High Court from 2013 to 2020 and currently chairs the Board of Auqaf in West Bengal.
Conflicting Family Status
Munshi expressed his surprise at the situation.
"It was shocking. While my name has been deleted after adjudication, my wife’s name and elder son’s name are still under adjudication. My younger son is a new voter who had applied through Form 6 and got his EPIC number,"
he stated.
He further explained that his name, along with his wife's, was present in the 2002 voters' list. Munshi provided supporting documents, including his passport and PAN card, during the hearing.
Despite assurances from the ERO, his name was sent for adjudication, leading to its deletion.
Adjudication Process and Appeal
Following the Special Intensive Revision, over six million voters' claims were reviewed by judicial officers appointed by the Calcutta High Court.
Of the 3.2 million cases processed, approximately 35-40% resulted in name deletions.
Munshi plans to appeal the decision before the tribunal, citing a lack of explanation for the deletion. The ECI has established 19 appellate tribunals across West Bengal.
These tribunals will be headed by retired judges to handle appeals related to voters marked "under adjudication."
Affected voters need to file appeals with the tribunals to challenge the deletion of their names.
Political Reactions
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the ECI of bias, alleging that it is aiding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"The EC has become a slave of the BJP. What is the need to conduct an election in such a manner? It would be better if they declared the BJP the winner even before elections are held,"
stated Arup Chakraborty, TMC spokesperson.
The TMC alleges the ECI has engaged in a "deletion spree" to help the BJP.
Rahul Sinha, a senior BJP leader, declined to comment, stating that only the ECI can respond.
Munshi's Perspective
Munshi refrained from assigning blame.
"I don’t blame anyone. I think that, as everything was done in such a hurry, they may not have looked into the documents thoroughly. I submitted my passport so that it can’t be disputed,"
he commented.
What to Watch Next
The focus shifts to Munshi's appeal process and the proceedings of the newly formed appellate tribunals. The Election Commission's response to the TMC's accusations will also be closely monitored, along with any further developments affecting the upcoming elections.