नवीनतम
SC set to hear arguments today on SIR process
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments today on the SIR process. The case will be taken up by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Jaymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi. The voter list has already been frozen for two phases of polling. Under the apex court’s supervision, more than 27 lakhs names were removed after adjudication.
The Supreme Court is likely to decide on the fate of the valid voters cleared by the tribunal. If the tribunal recognises them again as valid voters, the Supreme Court may decide today whether they can cast their ballots in this election or not. Tribunal proceedings are also beginning from today. Last Friday, a new petition urged the court to allow those whose names are cleared by the tribunal to vote, and to ensure that all mapped voters can exercise their franchise. Sources say the state’s lawyers will make a similar request.
In its previous hearing, the Supreme Court had clarified that these voters will not lose their rights permanently, but whether they can vote in this election remains under consideration. Meanwhile, the court will also hear the case related to the NIA probe into the incident in Malda, where judges engaged in SIR adjudication were gheraoed and intimidated. Court sources add that yesterday, former judges visited the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Institute in Joka, Kolkata, where the tribunal will sit. Out of 19 benches, most are beginning their work today.
