00:00Remember this is with regards to the SIR exercise which is currently ongoing in the national capital.
00:05The special intensive revision of electoral rolls has now thrown up a staggering number in West Bengal.
00:11We are looking at the state first.
00:1337 lakh plus appeals are still pending before the tribunals.
00:18And based on the election commission's own affidavit before the Supreme Court clearing
00:22that backlog at the current pace could take nearly 12 years.
00:27But the SIR controversy is no longer limited to Bengal.
00:30In Delhi, 33.3 lakh voters have received SIR notices including several prominent political and constitutional figures.
00:39I am leaving you with this story.
00:41Thanks so much for watching.
01:0212 years.
01:03That is how long it could take to clear the mountain of appeals against the special intensive revision of electoral
01:10rolls in West Bengal.
01:12The startling estimate comes from calculations based on the election commission's own affidavit in the Supreme Court.
01:24Appeals disposed, 1,26,194.
01:29Appeals pending, 37,5,265.
01:34The tribunals began hearing cases in April.
01:37Since then, just 1.26 lakh appeals have been disposed of.
01:43That is roughly 25,238 cases every month.
01:47At that pace, clearing the 37 lakh plus backlog would take 146 months, nearly 12 years.
01:55And that calculation assumes tribunals hear cases all seven days a week.
02:01The poll panel has now sought to increase the number of appellate's tribunals from 19 to 42 to accelerate disposal.
02:09West Bengal saw around 27 lakh voters deleted from the rolls.
02:13But the total number of appeals filed stands at 38.3 lakh because the appeals are not only against exclusions.
02:2222.2 lakh deleted voters appealed against their exclusion.
02:2716.10 lakh appeals were filed against inclusions.
02:31And 4.95 lakh deleted voters did not appeal against their exclusion.
02:35As the Bengal backlog raises questions over the appeals process, the SIS storm has now spread to Delhi.
02:43Nearly 33% of Delhi's voters were excluded from the draft list.
02:48And now, 33.3 lakh voters have received SIR notices.
02:54Among those plagued are External Affairs Minister S.J. Shankar and his wife.
03:00Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
03:03Former Deputy Chief Minister Mani Sisodia.
03:06Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
03:09Former Army Chief Upendra Diwendi and CBI Director Praveen Sud.
03:13The reasons include name not being mapped to 2002 voter list, name mismatches, age discrepancies and differences in parental or
03:24spouse details.
03:25Poll body has clarified.
03:27Issue of notice does not mean deletion.
03:30The election commission says notices are being issued to correct voter data.
03:34Those getting notices can submit reply.
03:37No name can be deleted without an opportunity to be heard and an appealable order.
03:43Delhi poll body said it is facilitating such cases on priority.
03:49The opposition, however, has attacked the SIR exercise, alleging large-scale voter deletions and accusing the BJP and an action
03:56commission of targeting voters.
04:20The BJP has hit back, pointing to SIR notices being served even to prominent BJP leaders.
04:42But the Bengal numbers leave behind a stark question.
04:46If appeals are not decided soon enough, for a voter in Bengal, it could mean being locked out of future
04:53elections.
04:54The question is stark.
04:56If a name is deleted today, will the voter get it back in time to vote when it matters?
05:03Bureau Report, India Today.
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