18,000 names missing from draft voters list of West Bengal Bar Council elections, advocates draw Calcutta HC’s attention
Concerns were raised over the alleged large-scale deletion of lawyers’ names – including that of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state cabinet minister Chandrima Bhattacharya – from the draft voters list.
Drawing the attention of a single bench comprising Justice Krishna Rao, the counsels sought the publication of a corrected voter roll ahead of the elections scheduled for February 19, 20 and 21. (File Photo)
Counsels representing advocates affiliated to the TMC, BJP and the Congress Friday petitioned the Calcutta High Court regarding the alleged deletion of around 18,000 names from the draft list of voters for the forthcoming West Bengal Bar Council elections.
Drawing the attention of a single bench comprising Justice Krishna Rao, the counsels sought the publication of a corrected voter roll ahead of the elections scheduled for February 19, 20 and 21. Concerns were raised over the alleged large-scale deletion of lawyers’ names – including that of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state cabinet minister Chandrima Bhattacharya – from the draft voters list.
A counsel submitted before the court, “Many advocate names missing from draft list… We want the correction of names and publication of a fresh list, including the names of all the advocates whose names are missing.”
The single bench will hear the matter next on January 7.
Shankar Prasad Dalpati, Secretary, Calcutta High Court Bar Association, said, “At least 7,000-8,000 names of lawyers have been omitted from the draft list. Besides, no new names have been added.”
According to sources, about 30,000 lawyers voted in the last election in 2018.
Meanwhile, the State Bar Council Saturday allowed advocates to enlist their names in the rolls until January 21. During this period, lawyers will also be able to correct any errors relating to their personal information on the voters list.
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However, due to the extension of time for registering names and correcting errors, some Council members stated that it will not be possible to complete the State Bar Council elections by March 15 as directed by the Supreme Court. Therefore, the Council has decided to file an application in the apex court for postponing the election dates.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
