Supreme Court Directs Calcutta High Court to Assess Security Plea by Former Judge Overseeing Election Tribunal

A retired judge, Ananya Kanti Roy Saraswati, approached the Supreme Court on Friday, seeking security measures while presiding over an election appellate tribunal in West Bengal. The tribunal was established to address disputes stemming from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise related to the state’s electoral rolls.

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Supreme Court’s Directive

The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, has requested that the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Tapabrata Chakraborty, review the security concerns raised by the former judge. CJI Kant stated, “We request the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to look into the matter and take such necessary steps as may be required.”

Context of the Plea

The plea was filed in light of the responsibilities that Judge Saraswati holds while adjudicating appeals related to the SIR process. The Supreme Court has been actively overseeing the management of disputes related to the SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal. This initiative follows the Court’s earlier directive to establish a special appellate mechanism to handle challenges concerning the inclusion and deletion of names from the electoral rolls in anticipation of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.

Formation of the Election Tribunal

The Supreme Court had previously instructed the Calcutta High Court to support this appellate process by providing judicial officers and retired judges to staff the tribunals. Judge Saraswati was appointed as the head of one such tribunal, tasked with addressing the challenges that arise during the SIR process.

Next Steps

The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the importance of ensuring that judicial officers heading such sensitive tribunals are provided with adequate security arrangements. The decision now rests with the Calcutta High Court’s Chief Justice, who will evaluate the plea and determine the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of Judge Saraswati as she carries out her duties.