Border communities face 'arbitrary exclusion' in West Bengal electoral roll revision

By A Representative 

A formal complaint has been lodged with the Election Commission of India over alleged large-scale and arbitrary deletions of voter names in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The letter, dated 9 April 2026 and addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, comes from Kirity Roy, Secretary of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and National Convenor of the Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI). It highlights what are described as unlawful exclusions in the 07 Dinhata Assembly Constituency, particularly affecting marginalized border communities.

The complaint points to specific cases in Shukarur Kuthi village under Sahebganj Police Station. One involves Ms. Moharjan Bibi, whose name was deleted despite her family’s long-standing presence in the constituency and her parents’ inclusion in earlier rolls. Another concerns Mr. Lutfar Ali, whose name was struck off allegedly due to minor clerical variations in his father’s name across documents. Both individuals had valid Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) and were previously listed in the rolls. According to the complaint, these deletions were carried out without proper inquiry, notice, or opportunity to be heard, violating principles of natural justice.

The letter further notes that in Shukarur Kuthi High School Booth, 209 names were deleted out of 991 voters, a pattern that appears to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. It alleges that the SIR process is being conducted in a chaotic and opaque manner, with minor spelling differences and technical discrepancies being used to disenfranchise genuine citizens. Applications submitted under Form-6 to restore names have reportedly not been acted upon, and no reasoned orders have been communicated, amounting to denial of due process.

The complaint argues that such actions undermine democratic participation and contravene constitutional guarantees under Articles 14 and 326. It demands immediate restoration of the deleted names, an independent inquiry into the mass deletions, disposal of pending applications through reasoned orders, and safeguards to prevent arbitrary exclusion of border communities, especially women. It also calls for suspension of further deletions until proper verification and hearings are conducted.

The issue of voter exclusion during electoral roll revisions has been a recurring concern in West Bengal, particularly in border districts like Cooch Behar, where residents often face bureaucratic hurdles and scrutiny over documentation. Civil society groups have long warned that mechanical deletions and procedural lapses risk disenfranchising legitimate citizens, eroding trust in the electoral process. The present complaint underscores these concerns, framing the SIR exercise not as a mechanism of inclusion but as one of exclusion, with serious implications for the integrity of democratic participation in the state.