WB 19 Appellate Tribunals Announced on 20 March (District-Wise): In a significant development ahead of electoral roll revisions, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a formal notification constituting 19 district-wise Appellate Tribunals across West Bengal. The move comes in compliance with directions from the Supreme Court of India and recommendations made by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
The Supreme Court today directed that appellate tribunals, comprising former Chief Justices and former Judges of the High Court, be constituted to hear appeals against the removal of names during West Bengal’s ‘Special Intensive Revision’ (SIR) process.
Once their names are recommended, the ECI may notify them as appellate tribunals to hear appeals related to the SIR process.
The Court observed that when the Chief Justice makes appropriate recommendations regarding the publication of such supplementary lists, the Election Commission of India must act upon them. The apex court directed the West Bengal government and the ECI to provide all necessary logistical support to judicial officers during the ongoing ‘Special Intensive Revision’ of electoral rolls in the state.
Background of the Decision of WB 19 Appellate Tribunals Announced on 20 March
In pursuance of the order dated 10.03.2026 passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in W.P. (Civil) No. 1089 of 2025 and ors, and as recommended by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the High Court at Calcutta, the Election Commission of India (“ECI”), hereby constitutes the following Appellate Tribunal(s) for hearing appeals against orders passed by the designated Judicial Officers in respect of inclusion or exclusion of prospective electors in the electoral roll of the State of West Bengal:-
According to the official notification dated March 20, 2026, the decision follows a Supreme Court order passed on March 10, 2026, in connection with a civil writ petition. Acting on this directive, and based on the recommendation of the Calcutta High Court’s Chief Justice, the ECI has established these tribunals to strengthen the electoral grievance redressal system.
WB Appellate Tribunals 2026 – District-wise List
| S. No. | Name of Appellate Authority | District / Jurisdiction |
| 1 | T.S. Sivagnanam (Former Chief Justice) | North 24 Parganas (AC-wise) & Kolkata |
| 2 | Pradipta Ray (Former Judge) | North 24 Parganas (AC-wise) |
| 3 | Tapen Sen (Former Judge) | Purba Medinipur |
| 4 | Pranab Kumar Deb (Former Judge) | Cooch Behar |
| 5 | Prabhat Kumar Dey (Former Judge) | Purba Bardhaman |
| 6 | Raghunath Ray (Former Judge) | Nadia |
| 7 | Ashoke Kumar Dasadhikari (Former Judge) | Howrah |
| 8 | Dipak Saha Ray (Former Judge) | Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri & Alipurduar |
| 9 | Anindita Roy Saraswati (Former Judge) | Paschim Medinipur & Jhargram |
| 10 | Toufique Uddin (Former Judge) | Dakshin Dinajpur |
| 11 | Indrajit Chatterjee (Former Judge) | Murshidabad (AC-wise) |
| 12 | Ranjit Kumar Bag (Former Judge) | South 24 Parganas |
| 13 | Samapti Chatterjee (Former Judge) | Hooghly |
| 14 | Md. Mumtaz Khan (Former Judge) | Purulia & Bankura |
| 15 | Mir Dara Sheko (Former Judge) | Paschim Bardhaman |
| 16 | Debi Prasad Dey (Former Judge) | Uttar Dinajpur |
| 17 | Biswajit Basu (Former Judge) | Murshidabad (AC-wise) |
| 18 | Manojit Mondal (Former Judge) | Birbhum |
| 19 | Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury (Former Judge) | Malda |
Purpose of the Appellate Tribunals
The newly formed tribunals will hear appeals against decisions taken by designated Judicial Officers regarding:
- Inclusion of names in electoral rolls
- Exclusion of prospective voters
- Corrections and disputes related to voter lists
This mechanism is expected to ensure transparency and fairness in the preparation of electoral rolls across the state.
District-Wise Tribunal Coverage for WB 19 Appellate Tribunals Announced
A total of 19 tribunals have been set up, each headed by retired judges or senior judicial authorities. These tribunals will cover all major districts of West Bengal, including:
- North 24 Parganas and Kolkata
- Purba Medinipur
- Cooch Behar
- Nadia
- Howrah
- Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar
- Murshidabad
- Birbhum
- Malda
- And several others
Each tribunal has been assigned specific districts or assembly constituency clusters to ensure efficient handling of cases.
Key Appointments
Prominent former judges, including a former Chief Justice and several retired High Court and district judges, have been appointed to head these tribunals. Their experience is expected to bring credibility and legal rigor to the appeals process.
What This Means for Voters
Once the supplementary electoral rolls are published, individuals who are dissatisfied with decisions regarding their voter registration status can file appeals before these tribunals. This provides an additional legal safeguard for voters to ensure their democratic rights are protected.
Strengthening Electoral Integrity
The establishment of these tribunals marks a crucial step toward improving electoral governance in West Bengal. By introducing a structured appellate system, the Election Commission aims to minimize disputes and enhance public confidence in the voter registration process.
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ECI Official Notification: https://www.eci.gov.in/issue-details-page/press-releases
