31/03/2026
đī¸ THE CONSTITUTIONAL IMPERATIVE: SIR 2026
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was mandated to correct a two-decade-old voter database. Unlike standard revisions, this involved 100% physical verification.
The Conflict: The initial process saw over 58 lakh deletions and 60 lakh cases placed under "Under Adjudication," leading to a significant "trust deficit."
The Judicial Shift: In Mostari Banu v. Election Commission of India (2025), the Supreme Court invoked Article 142, replacing executive officials with 700 judicial officers to oversee the adjudication, ensuring impartiality and legal rigor.
đ AMBIT AND JURISDICTION: THE 19 APPELLATE TRIBUNALS
Per Notification No. 39/WB/2026 (SIR), these single-member bodies are presided over by former High Court Judges and Chief Justices. If your claim was rejected by a judicial Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), these tribunals are your only path to the 2026 ballot.
S. No,Appellate Authority (Mr./Ms.),Assigned Jurisdiction
1,"T.S. Sivagnanam, former CJ",24-Parganas North & Kolkata
2,"Pradipta Ray, former Judge",24-Parganas North (Specific ACs)
3,"Tapen Sen, former Judge",Purba Medinipur
4,"Pranab Kumar Deb, former Judge",Coochbehar
5,"Prabhat Kumar Dey, former Judge",Purba Bardhaman
6,"Raghunath Ray, former Judge",Nadia
7,"Ashoke Kumar Dasadhikari, former Judge",Howrah
8,"Dipak Saha Ray, former Judge","North Bengal (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, etc.)"
9,"Anindita Roy Saraswarti, former Judge",Paschim Medinipur & Jhargram
10,"Toufique Uddin, former Judge",Dakshin Dinajpur
11,"Indrajit Chatterjee, former Judge",Murshidabad (AC wise)
12,"Ranjit Kumar Bag, former Judge",24-Parganas South
13,"Samapti Chatterjee, former Judge",Hooghly
14,"Md. Mumtaz Khan, former Judge",Purulia and Bankura
15,"Mir Dara Sheko, former Judge",Paschim Bardhaman
16,"Debi Prosad Dey, former Judge",Uttar Dinajpur
17,"Biswajit Basu, former Judge",Murshidabad (AC wise)
18,"Manojit Mondal, former Judge",Birbhum
19,"Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury, former Judge",Malda
đ PROCEDURAL ROADMAP FOR FILING APPEALS
The window for filing is live! Since the supplementary list was published on March 23, 2026, the clock is ticking toward the April nomination deadlines.
Filing Mechanisms Online (ECI NET): Use ecinet.eci.gov.in for digital submission. This is the fastest way to receive a trackable reference number.
Physical Filing: Submit at the DM, SDM, or SDO offices. These centers are legally mandated to digitize and upload your appeal for the judgeâs review immediately.
What Your Petition Must Include
Voter Identity: Your unique serial/part number from the draft roll.
Order of Rejection: A copy of the rejection order from the Judicial Officer (if issued).
Fact-Based Rebuttal: Specific evidence proving you are not "Shifted," "Dead," or a "Duplicate."
đ EVIDENTIARY STANDARDS: THE "GOLDEN DOCUMENTS"
The Supreme Court has set strict guidelines to prevent "administrative arbitrariness." The following documents must be accepted:
Aadhaar Card: Primary identity proof.
Madhyamik Admit Card: Crucial for date of birth and parentage verification.
EPIC (Old): Essential for "Mapped Voters" to prove previous registration.
Form 6 / Declaration: Required for new inclusions (voters turning 18 as of Jan 1, 2026).
Govt ID / PPO: Proof for employees and pensioners.
Important Note: Documents received on or before February 14, 2026, must be considered valid, regardless of previous technical upload failures.
đ¨ââī¸ THE ROLE OF REPRESENTATION
You do not have to fight this alone. The SIR framework allows for:
Legal Counsel: Advocates can argue merits and challenge procedural lapses.
Booth Level Agents (BLAs): Recognized political party agents can represent you with a signed authority letter.
Authorized Representatives: Permitted by the SC for those unable to attend due to age, illness, or distance.
â ī¸ THE "SONS AND DAUGHTERS" EXCLUSION ISSUE
There is a rising legal concern regarding "inherited disenfranchisement." * The Mechanism: If a parent is flagged for a "Logical Discrepancy" (LD) or marked as "Shifted," the algorithm often automatically rejects their children.
The Remedy: Affected youth must file independent appeals. The Supreme Court has noted that failing to meet "income/wealth tests" should not lead to a loss of the fundamental right to vote.
âī¸ WRIT JURISDICTIONS: CAN YOU EXPEDITE?
While many seek to file Writ Petitions (Article 226) in the Calcutta High Court for a Mandamus, be cautious:
The Article 142 Barrier: Because the Supreme Court is overseeing the SIR, they have directed individuals to use the Appellate Tribunals first.
The Deeming Provision: The SC has ruled that any list published before nominations will be "deemed" to have existed since Feb 28, 2026, providing a retroactive cure for administrative delays.
â DETAILED FAQ: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Who can appeal? Anyone deleted from the 2025 roll, those rejected during adjudication, or first-time voters whose Form 6 was denied.
Where are the hearings? Usually at District Magistrate offices or Sub-Divisional offices.
Can my children vote if I am excluded? Only if they verify independently. Their eligibility is linked to their own documents (Birth Certificate/Admit Card), not just yours.
What if the decision is delayed? The SC has ordered Tribunals to work "day and night." However, decisions past the nomination date (April 6/9) may be too late for this cycle.
đ MODEL PETITION FOR APPEAL
(For use before the SIR Appellate Tribunal under Section 24 of the RP Act, 1950)
DISTRICT: [Insert District]
BEFORE THE HONâBLE APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
APPELLANT: [Your Name]
VERSUS
RESPONDENTS: ERO, DEO, and ECI.
GROUNDS:
Failure to consider Madhyamik Admit Card as valid proof of parentage (Mostari Banu v. ECI).
Erroneous marking as "Shifted" despite permanent residency at [Address].
Technical suffix mismatch in the parent/spouse name.
PRAYER: Immediate inclusion in the Supplementary Electoral Roll to exercise the fundamental right to vote on April 23/29, 2026.
CONCLUSION: GUARDIANS OF THE FRANCHISE
The establishment of these 19 Tribunals under leaders like Justice T.S. Sivagnanam is a watershed moment for Indian law. For every voter, the key is timely filing and proper documentation.
