These are only byelections, says CJI as SC declines urgent hearing on WB SIR pleas

SC refuses to prepone West Bengal SIR hearing before Oct 6 bypolls

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Monday declined to advance the hearing of pleas concerning the pendency of appeals arising from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.Byelections in Rejinagar and Nandigram assembly constituencies in the state will be held on Oct 6. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said the matter would be taken up on Oct 5. The matter was mentioned for urgent hearing after it was stated that the case, earlier expected to be heard on Sept 29, was now tentatively listed for Oct 5.

Seeking an earlier hearing, the lawyer said more than 18,000 appeals against the exclusion of names from the electoral rolls were still pending before appellate tribunals constituted pursuant to the SC's directions."There are more than 18,000 appeals pending... These people did not take part in the first elections," the counsel said, adding that the affected voters could miss out on exercising their franchise for a second time.The counsel said that the Oct 6 bypolls were scheduled immediately after the proposed Oct 5 hearing and urged the court to take up the matter earlier."These are only by-elections," CJI Surya Kant said, adding that the matter would be taken up on Oct 5.