Fourth of 19 judges quits Bengal's SIR appeal tribunals as Murshidabad appeals stall
In one line: A fourth retired judge has quit the 19 appellate tribunals hearing appeals against West Bengal's SIR deletions, leaving Murshidabad's appeals stalled.
Published 8 November 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
Retired Calcutta High Court judge Biswajit Basu has resigned from the appellate tribunals hearing appeals against deletions in West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citing personal reasons. He wrote to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on Friday, 6 November 2026, and the resignation was reported on 7 November. He is the fourth of the 19 retired judges heading the tribunals to step down, after former Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and retired judges Ranjit Kumar Bag and Indrajit Chatterjee. Chatterjee had cited the strain of a daily commute of about 22 km and said he had expected the job to last two to three months.
Basu and Chatterjee were both hearing appeals from Murshidabad district, where many voters were excluded. An Election Commission official said that with both judges gone within a month, disposal of Murshidabad appeals has 'effectively come to a standstill'. Basu himself said, 'Resolving lakhs of cases in this manner is a little difficult', and stressed the need for better tribunal infrastructure. The SIR in West Bengal led to the deletion of nearly 91 lakh voters from the rolls, for reasons that included 'logical discrepancies'. On 11 August 2026, a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant had already asked the Election Commission for details of appeals decided and pending, with Justice Joymalya Bagchi remarking that 'just filing an appeal is not enough'.
The tribunals are a court-made remedy. Under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, appeals against an Electoral Registration Officer's orders normally go to a district magistrate or similar officer, and then to the Chief Electoral Officer, all within the executive. In West Bengal, claims and objections were instead decided by judicial officers. On 10 March 2026, noting the absence of an independent appellate mechanism, the Supreme Court directed that appellate tribunals of former Chief Justices and former High Court judges be formed on the recommendation of the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice, with the Election Commission notifying them and bearing the cost. The EC set up 19 tribunals in March. Each resignation now tests whether the right to appeal can be made real for lakhs of excluded voters.
Prelims facts
- Retired judge Biswajit Basu is the fourth of 19 retired judges to quit the West Bengal SIR appellate tribunals.
- The West Bengal SIR deleted nearly 91 lakh voters from the electoral rolls.
- On 10 March 2026, the Supreme Court ordered appellate tribunals of former High Court judges for SIR exclusions in West Bengal; the EC notified 19 tribunals in March.
- Under Section 24 of the RPA, 1950, appeals against an Electoral Registration Officer's orders go to a district magistrate or equivalent, and then to the Chief Electoral Officer.
- In West Bengal, SIR claims and objections were decided by judicial officers drawn from West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
Quick recall
- Who is the latest judge to resign from Bengal's SIR tribunals?
- Retired Calcutta High Court judge Biswajit Basu, the fourth of 19.
- How many voters were deleted in West Bengal's SIR?
- Nearly 91 lakh.
- When did the Supreme Court order SIR appellate tribunals for West Bengal?
- 10 March 2026.
- How many appellate tribunals did the EC notify for West Bengal?
- 19.
- Who bears the cost of the SIR appellate tribunals?
- The Election Commission of India.
- Under Section 24 of the RPA, 1950, who hears the second appeal?
- The Chief Electoral Officer of the State.
- Which district's appeals have stalled after two resignations?
- Murshidabad.
- Who decided SIR claims and objections in West Bengal?
- Judicial officers from West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
Prelims practice question
Under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, a second appeal against an order relating to the electoral roll lies to the:
- Election Commission of India
- Chief Electoral Officer of the State
- High Court of the State
- Delimitation Commission
Show answer
Answer: (b) Chief Electoral Officer of the State. Section 24(a) provides a first appeal from the Electoral Registration Officer's order (under Sections 22 or 23) to a district magistrate, additional district magistrate, executive magistrate, district collector or equivalent officer. Section 24(b) provides a second appeal from that order to the Chief Electoral Officer.
Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions
Recurring theme: Electoral rolls, the right to vote and remedies against wrongful deletion
- How to use this
Use West Bengal's SIR to show that the EC's roll revision power is subject to judicial oversight and an independent appeal for excluded voters.
- West Bengal's SIR deleted nearly 91 lakh voters; on 10 March 2026 the Supreme Court ordered appellate tribunals of former High Court judges.
- Under Section 24 of the RPA, 1950, appeals normally go to a district magistrate and then the Chief Electoral Officer.
- Four of the 19 tribunal judges have resigned, stalling Murshidabad appeals; the Court has sought disposal data.
- How to use this
Cite the SIR tribunals as a case where a tribunal expanded access to justice, but whose competence depends on staffing.
- 19 tribunals of retired judges were notified in March 2026 for West Bengal's SIR appeals under a Supreme Court order.
- Resignations of four judges, citing workload and travel, have stalled appeals in Murshidabad.
Tests basic knowledge of the Election Commission, whose roll revision is at the centre of this story.
Mains practice question
The right to appeal against deletion from the electoral roll is only as good as the forum that hears it. Discuss with reference to the appellate tribunals set up for West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision. (150 words)
Model answer
The right to vote depends on a name being on the roll, so a fair and quick appeal against wrongful deletion is essential. West Bengal's SIR deleted nearly 91 lakh voters, and the forum for their appeals is now under strain.
Why a special forum was needed
- Under Section 24 of the RPA, 1950, appeals lie to a district magistrate and then the Chief Electoral Officer, both executive officers.
- On 10 March 2026, the Supreme Court found no independent appellate mechanism and ordered tribunals of former High Court judges; the EC notified 19.
Problems now visible
- Four of 19 judges have resigned, including Biswajit Basu on 6 November 2026.
- Murshidabad appeals have 'effectively come to a standstill'.
- Judges cite workload, travel and weak infrastructure.
Way forward
- Fill vacancies quickly and provide staff and digital case management.
- Publish disposal data, as the Supreme Court sought in August 2026.
A remedy that cannot be heard in time is no remedy for an excluded voter.
The basics
Why this matters
An electoral roll decides who can vote. When a revision removes names on a large scale, the fairness of the appeal process becomes a question of fundamental democratic rights. West Bengal's SIR shows how the law's normal appeal route was replaced by a court-designed one, and how that route is now straining.
The normal route under the law
The Election Commission controls the preparation of electoral rolls under Article 324 of the Constitution. The detailed rules are in the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, appeals stay inside the executive.
- 1Electoral Registration OfficerDecides claims and objections under Sections 22 and 23.
- 2First appealTo a district magistrate, additional district magistrate, executive magistrate, district collector or equivalent officer.
- 3Second appealTo the Chief Electoral Officer of the State.
What was different in West Bengal
In West Bengal, the Supreme Court had Judicial officers in the Bengal SIR decide claims and objections. Since their orders could not go to an executive forum, the Court created SIR appellate tribunals in West Bengal headed by retired judges.
- Decided by executive officers
- District magistrate, then Chief Electoral Officer
- Applies across India
- Claims decided by judicial officers
- Appeals to tribunals of former High Court judges
- Created by Supreme Court order of 10 March 2026
The strain
The tribunals face lakhs of appeals arising from nearly 91 lakh deletions. Judges have cited workload, long commutes and poor infrastructure. In August 2026 the Supreme Court asked the Election Commission of India for data on appeals decided and pending, saying filing an appeal is not enough.
How to use this in Mains
Use it for questions on the right to vote, the EC's powers in revising rolls, and tribunals. The point to make: a remedy must be accessible and timely. Independence from the executive, which the tribunals provide, is valuable only if they have the judges and staff to decide cases.
Go deeper
Why it matters for UPSC
The 2026 Mains GS2 paper asked about the Election Commission's position in revising electoral rolls. This story shows the remedy side: what happens after a name is deleted. It links the RPA, 1950, Article 324, the role of courts in elections and the design of tribunals.
The core idea
The Election Commission of India revises rolls. Normally, appeals follow Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 to executive officers. In West Bengal, the Supreme Court made Judicial officers in the Bengal SIR decide claims, and then created SIR appellate tribunals in West Bengal for appeals. Those tribunals are now losing judges.
Numbers and dates to remember
- Nearly 91 lakh voters deleted in West Bengal's SIR.
- 10 March 2026: Supreme Court orders appellate tribunals.
- March 2026: EC notifies 19 tribunals.
- 11 August 2026: Supreme Court seeks data on disposals.
- 6 November 2026: Biswajit Basu writes to the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice; fourth of 19 to resign.
Where to go next
- Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950: the normal appeal route.
- SIR appellate tribunals in West Bengal: how the special tribunals were built.
- Judicial officers in the Bengal SIR: who decided the claims first.
- Election Commission of India: the body that runs the revision.
Go deeper: can a court-built remedy carry the load?
Why the Court stepped in. On 10 March 2026, a Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant noted the absence of an independent appellate mechanism. Judicial officers were already deciding claims in place of the usual executive officers. Their orders could not go to an executive forum, so the Court created SIR appellate tribunals in West Bengal of former Chief Justices and High Court judges, recommended by the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice and notified by the Election Commission of India, which bears the cost.
The case for this design. It gives a voter an independent hearing by a former judge instead of a district officer who belongs to the same machinery that deleted the name. It reflects the view that the right to vote, though statutory, deserves strong procedural protection.
The weaknesses now visible. Retired judges serve voluntarily. Four of 19 have left. Indrajit Chatterjee cited a 22 km daily commute and a job that was meant to last two or three months. Biswajit Basu said resolving lakhs of cases 'in this manner' is difficult and asked for better infrastructure. With both Murshidabad judges gone, appeals there have stalled.
Accountability. In August 2026, Justice Joymalya Bagchi said 'just filing an appeal is not enough' as the Court sought disposal data. The comparison with the normal route under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 is instructive: executive appeals are quicker to staff but less independent; judicial tribunals are more independent but harder to staff. Timely replacement of judges, staff support and published disposal figures would make the remedy real for the voters described in Judicial officers in the Bengal SIR.
Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
The normal two-step appeal route for electoral roll decisions.
In one line: Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 provides two levels of appeal against orders on the electoral roll.
The two levels
- First appeal: from an order of the Electoral Registration Officer under Section 22 or Section 23 to a district magistrate, additional district magistrate, executive magistrate, district collector or an officer of equivalent rank.
- Second appeal: from that officer's order to the Chief Electoral Officer of the State.
Appeals must be filed within the time and in the manner prescribed by rules.
Why it matters now
Both levels are executive officers. In West Bengal's SIR, claims were decided by judicial officers instead, so the Supreme Court set up a separate route with retired judges as appellate tribunals.
Exam tip
Prelims can ask who hears the second appeal: it is the Chief Electoral Officer, not the Election Commission or a High Court.
Where to go next
SIR appellate tribunals in West Bengal
How the Supreme Court built a special appeal forum for excluded voters.
In one line: The SIR appellate tribunals are 19 forums headed by retired judges that hear appeals against exclusions from West Bengal's electoral rolls, set up under a Supreme Court order of 10 March 2026.
How they were formed
- The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court may request former Chief Justices and former High Court judges, preferably from Calcutta or neighbouring States, to serve.
- The Election Commission notifies those recommended as tribunals and bears the full cost; the honorarium is fixed by the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice in consultation with the EC.
- The EC notified 19 tribunals in March 2026. One was headed by former Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam.
- Appeals can be filed online through the ECINET platform or at the offices of district magistrates and sub-divisional officers. Each tribunal ends once its district's appeals are disposed of.
Why they are in the news
Four of the 19 judges have now resigned, the latest being Biswajit Basu.
Where to go next
Judicial officers in the Bengal SIR
Who decided the claims and objections before any appeal.
In one line: In West Bengal's SIR, the Supreme Court had serving judicial officers, not executive officers, decide claims and objections on the electoral roll.
Who they were
About 500 judicial officers from West Bengal and about 200 from Odisha and Jharkhand were deployed. By the evening of 9 March 2026, the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice reported that 10.16 lakh objections had been disposed of.
Their status
In an order of 24 February 2026, which it referred back to on 10 March, the Supreme Court said their decisions could not be appealed to any executive or administrative forum. Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked that 'No one should dare question the judicial officers'. That is why a separate appellate tribunal of retired judges was needed.
Why it matters
It is an unusual use of the judiciary in an administrative electoral process, driven by the Court's concern about trust on both sides.
Where to go next
Election Commission of India
The constitutional body that runs roll revisions and notified the tribunals.
In one line: The Election Commission of India is the constitutional body that, under Article 324, superintends, directs and controls the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Parliament, State legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President.
Its role in roll revision
It orders revisions of the rolls, including intensive revisions like the SIR, and its machinery of Chief Electoral Officers and Electoral Registration Officers carries them out under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Its role in West Bengal's appeals
Following the Supreme Court's 10 March 2026 order, the EC notified the 19 appellate tribunals and bears their full cost. In August 2026, the Court asked it to report how many appeals had been decided and how many were pending.
Why it matters
UPSC's 2026 GS2 paper asked about the EC's position while revising rolls. The Bengal experience shows how courts have shaped that power.
Where to go next
Election Commission of India: every story that connects to it (2)
Take the 8 November 2026 quiz: 30 Prelims-style questions with answers