<h3>Overview</h3> <p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court of India — apex judicial body that interprets the Constitution and adjudicates disputes involving the Union and states (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> on 20 April 2026 ordered that the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Chief Justice of India — the senior‑most judge of the Supreme Court, responsible for allocation of cases and administrative functions (GS2: Polity)">Chief Justice of India</span> <span class="key-term" data-definition="Surya Kant — incumbent CJI as of 2026, heading the Supreme Court’s judicial administration (GS2: Polity)">Surya Kant</span> will obtain a report from the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Calcutta High Court — the highest court of the Indian state of West Bengal, exercising original and appellate jurisdiction (GS2: Polity)">Calcutta High Court</span> Chief Justice on the functioning of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Appellate Tribunals — quasi‑judicial bodies set up to hear appeals against inclusion or exclusion of names from electoral rolls after a Special Intensive Revision (GS2: Polity)">Appellate Tribunals</span> created after the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Special Intensive Revision (SIR) — a focused exercise by the Election Commission to clean and update electoral rolls before elections (GS2: Polity)">Special Intensive Revision (SIR)</span> in West Bengal.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>Senior Advocate <span class="key-term" data-definition="Devadatt Kamat — senior counsel appearing before the Supreme Court on the West Bengal SIR matter (GS2: Polity)">Devadatt Kamat</span> alleged that the tribunals are not functioning despite earlier Supreme Court directions.</li> <li>The tribunals allegedly refuse physical applications, allow only internet‑based filings, and bar lawyers from representing parties.</li> <li>The Court had previously ordered that any appeal allowed within two days of the polling dates (23 April and 29 April 2026) must enable the petitioner to vote.</li> <li>CJI <span class="key-term" data-definition="Surya Kant — incumbent CJI as of 2026, heading the Supreme Court’s judicial administration (GS2: Polity)">Surya Kant</span> expressed displeasure at the repeated filings and said a report will be obtained “today itself”.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>1. The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Electoral roll — the official list of eligible voters in a constituency, crucial for ensuring universal adult suffrage (GS2: Polity)">electoral rolls</span> are being revised under SIR to delete ineligible names and add eligible ones before the 2026 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal.</p> <p>2. The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Appellate Tribunals — quasi‑judicial bodies set up to hear appeals against inclusion or exclusion of names from electoral rolls after a Special Intensive Revision (GS2: Polity)">Appellate Tribunals</span> were constituted by the Election Commission to provide a speedy remedy, but their inactivity threatens the constitutional right to vote.</p> <p>3. The Supreme Court’s earlier order mandated that any appeal allowed within two days of the polling date must be acted upon so that the petitioner can cast a vote.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding the interplay between the judiciary and the Election Commission is essential for GS 2 (Polity). The episode illustrates:</p> <ul> <li>Judicial oversight of administrative machinery – the Supreme Court can direct High Courts to monitor compliance.</li> <li>Procedural safeguards in electoral administration – the SIR process and the role of Appellate Tribunals ensure fairness in voter registration.</li> <li>Constitutional guarantee of universal adult suffrage (Article 326) and the mechanisms to protect it.</li> </ul> <h3>Way Forward</h3> <p>• The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Chief Justice of India — the senior‑most judge of the Supreme Court, responsible for allocation of cases and administrative functions (GS2: Polity)">CJI</span> is expected to submit a detailed report on tribunal functioning, which will guide corrective orders.</p> <p>• The Election Commission may need to issue fresh guidelines to ensure physical filing options and lawyer representation, thereby aligning tribunal operations with constitutional mandates.</p> <p>• Persistent non‑compliance could invite contempt proceedings against the officials overseeing the tribunals, reinforcing the principle that administrative bodies must obey judicial directives.</p>