At least three of the 19 appellate tribunals established in West Bengal to resolve disputes stemming from the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls are currently vacant, coinciding with a massive accumulation of pending appeals. Election Commission officials indicated that they are awaiting nominee names from the Calcutta High Court to fill these leadership positions.
With municipal and local elections approaching, more than 37 million voters find themselves in legal uncertainty, prompting anxieties about potential mass disenfranchisement. Out of 38.3 million appeals submitted, the tribunals have successfully handled only about 1.02 million cases, representing a completion rate of under three percent. Petitioners informed the Supreme Court that proceeding at this rate means resolving the full backlog could stretch beyond 12 years.
These specialized tribunals were established on March 21 following directives from the Supreme Court to adjudicate disputes after millions of entries were contested or removed during the revision process. Court filings indicate that out of all total appeals, 22.2 million came from individuals whose names were deleted and who are contesting their exclusion, while another 16.1 million challenges targeted the inclusion of specific voters.
Under the administrative framework, the Calcutta High Court is set to provide names of retired high court judges to the West Bengal chief electoral officer, who will formally notify the appointments for the three empty positions. Although the tribunals operate under the oversight of the high court, the Election Commission supplies secretarial support, including personnel and a digital infrastructure designed for virtual hearings.
Meanwhile, opposition factions have criticized the revision initiative, characterizing it as a major subversion of democratic norms. They have alleged that the Election Commission utilized automated, algorithm-based methods that disproportionately resulted in the removal of voters from opposition strongholds and minority communities. With tribunal vacancies persisting alongside low case clearance rates, a vast volume of appeals remains unresolved as the electoral timeline advances.