Defeated them in court today, will trounce BJP in polls: Abhishek on SC order
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Observing that the Special Intensive Revision process in West Bengal should be transparent and not cause inconvenience, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to display the names of those on the “logical discrepancies” list at gram panchayat bhavans and block offices, where documents and objections will also be submitted.
Logical discrepancies in progeny linking with the 2002 voter list include instances of a mismatch in the parent’s name and the age difference between a voter and their parent being less than 15 years or more than 50 years.
Noting that 1.25 crore voters in the state figure on the “logical discrepancies” list, a three-judge bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi directed that the offices for submitting documents and objections be set up within the panchayat bhavans or block offices and asked the West Bengal government to provide adequate manpower to the election authorities.
The court directed that the director general of police (DGP) of West Bengal shall be obligated to ensure that there is no law-and-order problem and that all the activities shall be completed smoothly.
The apex court was hearing pleas alleging arbitrariness and procedural irregularities in the ongoing SIR exercise in West Bengal, including those related to the “logical discrepancies” category.
The bench noted that notices have been issued that are broadly classified in three categories – mapped, unmapped and logical discrepancy.
The top court added that under the ‘logical discrepancy’ category, mismatches in father’s name or parents’ age, and a difference in the age of the grandparents were noticed by the authorities.
The apex court said those likely to be affected by the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal must be allowed to submit their documents or objections.
The top court directed that the office for submitting the documents and objections shall be set up within the panchayat bhavans or block offices.
BANERJEE TARGETS BJP
Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday said the Supreme Court’s direction to the EC to publish the names of electors called for hearings on account of logical discrepancies in enumeration forms is “two tight slaps on the faces of those who tried to deprive people of their fundamental right to vote”.
Speaking at a rally at Barasat in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, the TMC national general secretary said this “victory in court” would be followed by the party’s “win in polls” likely to take place in April this year.
Referring to the BJP, Banerjee said, “This is a victory of ‘Maa Mati Manush’ and the people of West Bengal over those who tried to pick and choose one crore citizens and delete their names from electoral rolls.”
The Supreme Court gave two tight slaps on the faces of those who not only tried to starve the people of West Bengal, but also attempted to deprive them of their fundamental right to vote.”
“We defeated them in court today, we will trounce them during polls in April. Stay prepared, West Bengal is not UP, Bihar, MP or Gujarat. This state showed the path to the nation’s Independence struggle, its renaissance. We do not bow our heads before outsiders,” he added.
”The BJP’s SIR game is over,” Banerjee said, stating he also had information that the court has asked the poll body to provide receipts of documents submitted by electors appearing for hearings. (PTI)
