The Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed the Supreme Court that Appellate Tribunals handling the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal have resolved less than 3% of total filed appeals, leaving over 37 lakh cases pending.
In an affidavit submitted on September 16, 2026, the poll panel disclosed that out of 38,20,683 appeals submitted across the state, only 1,02,231 (approximately 2.68%) have been disposed of. This leaves 37,18,452 appeals awaiting adjudication.
Missing Breakdown: Exclusions vs. Inclusions
The ECI’s affidavit failed to categorize the data into appeals filed by voters who were excluded from electoral rolls versus third-party challenges against voter inclusions.
During previous proceedings, petitioners cited Right to Information (RTI) responses showing that:
- ~80% of appeals were filed by third parties challenging the inclusion of names (seeking disenfranchisement).
- ~20% of appeals were filed directly by excluded voters seeking reinstatement.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana is hearing the matter in Mostari Banu v. Election Commission of India & Ors. (alongside connected petitions, including one filed by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury).
Regional Backlog: High-Volume Districts
Disposal rates vary significantly across West Bengal’s 24 administrative zones. Murshidabad and Malda report the heaviest backlogs:
| District | Total Appeals | Disposed | Pending | Disposal Rate |
| Murshidabad | 7,47,921 | 514 | 7,47,407 | 0.07% |
| Malda | 5,31,345 | 1,514 | 5,29,831 | 0.28% |
| North 24 Parganas | 3,59,375 | 301 | 3,59,074 | 0.08% |
| South 24 Parganas | 3,21,754 | 22,049 | 2,99,705 | 6.85% |
| Uttar Dinajpur | 3,12,259 | 9,104 | 3,03,155 | 2.92% |
| Purba Bardhaman | 2,80,029 | 131 | 2,79,898 | 0.05% |
| Kolkata (North & South) | 69,478 | 1,811 | 67,667 | 2.61% |
| Howrah | 1,65,067 | 3,674 | 1,61,393 | 2.23% |
| Statewide Total | 38,20,683 | 1,02,231 | 37,18,452 | 2.68% |
Upcoming Municipal Elections & Potential Next Steps
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan urged the bench to prioritize appeals in Kolkata (North and South) and Howrah, given that municipal elections in these districts are scheduled for December. Together, these three jurisdictions carry 2,29,060 pending appeals.
Sankaranarayanan also suggested prioritizing appeals filed by excluded citizens, noting that wrongful exclusion directly deprives individuals of their fundamental right to vote. The bench previously indicated it may issue directives on establishing additional Appellate Tribunals or setting prioritization frameworks once the ECI clarifies its operational requirements.