OVER 27 LAKH BENGAL VOTERS DELETED AFTER SIR ADJUDICATION, APPEALS REMAIN ROUTE TO RESTORATION

September 29, 2026

More than 27 lakh voters in West Bengal were found ineligible and removed from the electoral rolls following the adjudication stage of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to figures submitted by the Election Commission. A total of 27,16,393 electors were affected by the adjudication decisions.

The Supreme Court had directed the establishment of appellate tribunals to provide a mechanism for voters challenging their exclusion from the rolls. Those whose names were removed through adjudication can seek restoration through the tribunal process.

By September, the Election Commission told the Supreme Court that 22.21 lakh appeals had been filed by voters whose names were deleted. These formed the majority of the more than 38 lakh appeals pending before the tribunals, with the remaining appeals concerning challenges to the inclusion of other voters.

The tribunal process has therefore become a significant avenue for resolving disputes arising from the SIR exercise. Recent data indicates that thousands of cases have been considered, with a substantial proportion of decided restoration appeals resulting in names being returned to the electoral roll.

The issue remains part of the wider legal and political debate surrounding the SIR exercise in West Bengal, particularly over the procedures used to determine voter eligibility and the mechanisms available to individuals seeking restoration of their names