New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India on Monday issued a sharp warning while hearing matters related to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, stressing that the integrity of judicial officers supervising the process should not be questioned without valid grounds.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice clarified that the voter revision exercise is being conducted under the supervision of judicial officers and assured that all genuine voters would be included in the final electoral rolls. At the same time, he stated firmly that unauthorised individuals and intruders would not be allowed to enter the electoral process.
The strong remarks came after concerns were raised regarding the functioning of officials overseeing the revision process. The Chief Justice expressed displeasure at allegations being made against members of the judiciary who are involved in supervising the exercise. He said such claims undermine the credibility of judicial officers who are performing their duties within the framework of the law.
Making his position clear, the Chief Justice stated that questioning the integrity of judicial officers without evidence is unacceptable. He emphasised that the judiciary must be trusted to carry out its responsibilities fairly and independently.
The court also responded to the filing of petitions related to the process before the exercise had progressed significantly. Addressing the concern, the Chief Justice remarked that approaching the court prematurely sends the wrong signal and reflects a lack of faith in the system designed to manage the revision process.
He advised the concerned parties to wait for the process to unfold instead of raising challenges at an early stage. According to the court, the ongoing revision is intended to ensure the accuracy of electoral rolls while maintaining strict scrutiny so that only legitimate voters are included.
The observations from the bench highlighted the judiciary’s emphasis on maintaining the credibility of the electoral process while safeguarding the reputation and independence of judicial officers entrusted with overseeing the exercise.
