Illustrated India’s Constitution, but Nandalal Bose’s family can no longer vote, Supreme Court told

The plea states that the family of Nandalal Bose, who contributed to the very visual and cultural articulation of the Constitution now stands excluded from the democratic process that the Constitution guarantees. (Image enhanced using AI)

Flagging the issue before the Supreme Court, Guruswamy specifically referred to the case of Bose’s descendants, submitting that despite participation in hearings and submission of documents during the verification process, their names were deleted after adjudication, raising serious concerns over transparency and due process.

The submissions were made during the Supreme Court’s hearing on pleas concerning the SIR exercise in West Bengal, where concerns have been raised over large-scale deletions and alleged procedural lapses.

Illustrator of Constitution

Bose, eminent artist, was entrusted with the artistic design and illumination of the original Constitution of India.

“The work of Shri Nandalal Bose is not merely ornamental but forms an intrinsic part of the identity of the Constitution itself, reflecting the civilisational ethos and cultural foundations upon which the Republic stands,” the plea says.

A commemorative postage stamp honouring the renowned artist Nandalal Bose was issued by the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department on April 16, 1967. (Image enhanced using AI)

Plea by family

88-year-old Sen along with his 82-year-old wife Deepa Sen along with his domestic help Chakradhar Nayek have filed an intervention application before the Supreme Courtthrough advocate Anju Thomas before the top court urging relief.

The application says that despite the lineage of Sen, intimately been connected with the constitutional history of the nation, his name has been deleted from the electoral rolls vide a deletion list dated April 1 without affording an opportunity to him to make his case.

The plea before the Supreme Court states that a person whose family contributed to the very visual and cultural articulation of the Constitution now stands excluded from the democratic process that the Constitution guarantees.

“This is not invoked as a matter of privilege, but as a reflection of the stark disconnect between constitutional ideals and administrative reality, where even the most undisputed identity, long-standing civic participation and unimpeachable documentation are rendered inconsequential,” it says.

The application states that the disenfranchisement is not confined to an individual but extends to an entire household unit, both of whom have lived their lives within the framework of Indian citizenship and civic participation.

The plea added that the exclusion of an elderly couple of such advanced age, without notice or justification, underscores the mechanical, arbitrary and indiscriminate manner in which the process is being implemented.

Wider pattern

The case is part of a wider pattern reported across the state, where several citizens, including elderly voters, have found their names missing from electoral rolls during the ongoing revision ahead of Assembly elections.

The developments have sparked political reactions, with opposition voices questioning the fairness of the process, while authorities maintain that due procedure is being followed during scrutiny.

Affected individuals retain the option to file claims and objections for restoration of their names, though concerns remain about the effectiveness of these remedies as elections draw closer.