Supreme Court Allows Recently Reinstated West Bengal Voters to Cast Ballots if Cleared Before Polling

April 16, 2026 : The Supreme Court of India on Thursday held that voters in West Bengal whose names are restored to electoral rolls by appellate tribunals shortly before polling will be permitted to vote, provided the decision is made within a limited timeframe ahead of election day.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi clarified that individuals who successfully challenge their exclusion in time should not be denied their franchise. The observation came in the context of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process to update voter lists.

The Court noted that electoral rolls are not completely frozen until the last moment. It indicated that if appellate tribunals decide appeals and restore names up to about two days before polling, such voters would still be eligible to participate in the election.

At the same time, the Bench declined to extend this benefit to individuals whose appeals remain pending. It cautioned that allowing voting without a final determination on eligibility could disrupt the electoral process and lead to administrative difficulties.

Recognising the large number of appeals filed against deletions from voter lists, the Court emphasised that the statutory appellate mechanism must be relied upon to resolve such disputes efficiently.

The ruling strikes a balance between safeguarding the right to vote for those cleared in time and maintaining the integrity and orderly conduct of the electoral process.