To be on electoral roll, to vote is a sentimental right, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday (April 13, 2026) told the Election Commission that the right to be on the electoral roll and to vote in one’s own country is not only constitutional but sentimental, while referring to lakhs of voters excluded for “logical discrepancies” and lined up for appeal hearings in West Bengal, hardly 10 days ahead of the Assembly elections, following an “inquisitorial” Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The court said 34 lakh appeals by voters purged from the West Bengal electoral roll have already been filed for hearing before 19 Appellate Tribunals. The court said there were over a lakh appeals pending before each of these tribunals.