Kolkata: The name of Shahidullah Munshi, a former judge of the Calcutta High Court and current president of the West Bengal Wakf Board, has been deleted from the electoral roll after adjudication by judicial officers appointed by the Calcutta High Court.
“It was shocking. Even though my name was deleted after the adjudication, my wife’s name and my elder son’s name are still adjudicated. My younger son is a new voter who applied through Form 6 and got his EPIC number,” Munshi told HT over phone.
He was a judge of the Calcutta High Court from 2013 to 2020.
“We were called for hearing. My name and my wife’s name were in the 2002 voter list. I submitted the 2002 list, my passport, PAN card and other documents. Even the CBI was surprised why I was called for hearing and assured that my name would be cleared. But then it was sent under the ruling. I don’t know how it happened,” he added.
Read also | 35-40% of the 3.2 million names are yet to be adjudicated in the West Bengal SIR
Claims of more than six million voters have been sent to judicial officials appointed by the Calcutta High Court for adjudication after the final electoral list was published on February 28 after a special intensive review. Of the 3.2 million cases decided so far, about 35% to 40% of names have been deleted, Election Commission officials said on Wednesday.
“I have to file an appeal with the court. I was not given any reason as to why my name was deleted,” Munshi said.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has constituted 19 appellate courts across West Bengal and appointed retired judges to hear appeals against orders of judicial officials in cases relating to voters who have been marked as ‘under adjudication’ after SIR for electoral rolls in the state.
“I don’t blame anyone. I think since everything was done in a hurry, maybe they didn’t look through the documents thoroughly. I submitted my passport so it couldn’t be challenged,” Munshi said.
Meanwhile, the TMC accused the EC of “helping the BJP win in any way”. “The EC has become a slave to the BJP. What is the need to hold elections this way? It would be better if they declared the BJP the winner even before the elections were held. The EC’s slogan should have been inclusivity. Instead they have engaged in a spate of deletion. Their only aim is to help the BJP win, anyway,” TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said.
The chief electoral officer in West Bengal did not respond to calls and messages.
“Only the EC can respond to this. I have no comments,” said Rahul Sinha, a senior BJP leader.
