00:00A special intensive revision of electoral rolls, which is now thrown up for a staggering number in West Bengal.
00:0737 lakh plus appeals are still pending before the tribunals, 37 lakh.
00:12And based on the Election Commission's own affidavit in the Supreme Court,
00:16clearing that backlog at the current pace could take nearly 12 years.
00:20The Election Commission is not saying 12 years, but they have given up the time frame and the backlog that
00:25they have been able to clear till now.
00:2738 lakhs are pending.
00:28It was the court itself who took that into cognizance and said clearing that backlog of 38 lakhs could take
00:36up to 12 to 13 years.
00:38And therefore, there should be more tribunals that should be set up by the Election Commission.
00:44But the SIR controversy is no longer now limited to Bengal.
00:48Let's cross over to the national capital, Delhi, where nearly 30% of Delhi's population finds itself out of the
00:56SIR.
00:57And notices have gone out to many, including several prominent political constitutional figures.
01:04Here's more.
01:2512 years.
01:27That is how long it could take to clear the mountain of appeals against the special intensive revision of electoral
01:34rolls in West Bengal.
01:36The startling estimate comes from calculations based on the Election Commission's own affidavit in the Supreme Court.
01:48Appeals disposed, 1,26,194.
01:53Appeals pending, 37,5,265.
01:58The tribunals began hearing cases in April.
02:02Since then, just 1,26 lakh of appeals have been disposed of.
02:07That is roughly 25,238 cases every month.
02:12At that pace, clearing the 37 lakh plus backlog would take 146 months, nearly 12 years.
02:19And that calculation assumes tribunals here cases all seven days a week.
02:25The poll panel has now sought to increase the number of appellate's tribunals from 19 to 42 to accelerate disposal.
02:33West Bengal saw around 27 lakh voters deleted from the rolls.
02:37But the total number of appeals filed stands at 38.3 lakh because the appeals are not only against exclusions.
02:4622.2 lakh deleted voters appealed against their exclusion.
02:5116.10 lakh appeals were filed against inclusions.
02:55And 4.95 lakh deleted voters did not appeal against their exclusion.
03:00As the Bengal backlog raises questions over the appeals process, the SIS storm has now spread to Delhi.
03:07Nearly 33% of Delhi's voters were excluded from the draft list.
03:12And now, 33.3 lakh voters have received SIR notices.
03:18Among those plagued are External Affairs Minister S.J. Shankar and his wife.
03:24Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
03:27Former Deputy Chief Minister Mani Sisodia.
03:30Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
03:32Former Army Chief Upendra Diwendi and CBI Director Praveen Sudh.
03:38The reasons include name not being mapped to 2002 voter list, name mismatches, age discrepancies and differences in parental or
03:48spouse details.
03:49Poll body has clarified.
03:50Issue of notice does not mean deletion.
03:54The election commission says notices are being issued to correct voter data.
03:58Those getting notices can submit reply.
04:01No name can be deleted without an opportunity to be heard and an appealable order.
04:07Delhi poll body said it is facilitating such cases on priority.
04:13The opposition, however, has attacked their side exercise, alleging large-scale voter deletions and accusing the BJP and Ennexion Commission
04:21of targeting voters.
04:44The BJP has hit back, pointing to SIR notices being served even to prominent BJP leaders.
05:06But the Bengal numbers leave behind a stark question.
05:09If appeals are not decided soon enough, for a voter in Bengal, it could mean being locked out of future
05:17elections.
05:18The question is stark.
05:20If a name is deleted today, will the voter get it back in time to vote when it matters?
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