ECI sets up 19 Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal to hear SIR cases

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has constituted 19 Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal to hear appeals related to the inclusion or exclusion of voters in the electoral rolls as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state. The ECI said the decision was taken in compliance with the 10th of March, 2026, order of the Supreme Court and based on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. It noted that, of the 19 tribunals, one will be headed by former Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam, while the remaining will be led by former High Court judges, including Pradipta Ray and Tapen Sen. 
The Commission said these tribunals will hear appeals against orders passed by designated judicial officers in cases involving discrepancies in electoral rolls across districts such as North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Cooch Behar and Howrah. The tribunals will be in existence till all appeals are disposed of. Given that the electoral roll is frozen on the last day of nomination, the supplementary lists should be out at the latest by a day prior to the issue of poll notification, giving a week to the tribunals to hear appeals 
The Election Commission further said appeals can be filed after the publication of the supplementary electoral rolls, either online through the ECI NET platform or physically at the offices of District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates or Sub-Divisional Officers, who will ensure digitisation and uploading of applications. The Commission added that the notification has come into force with immediate effect and the tribunals will cease to exist once all appeals are disposed of in the respective districts.