CURRENT AFFAIRS | MARCH 29, 2026
CLAT GK + ELECTORAL LAW & CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
A massive voter list deletion crisis has engulfed the districts of Murshidabad and Malda in West Bengal, with professionals including doctors, lawyers, and even police officers finding their names deleted from voter rolls. The controversy stems from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which placed approximately 60 lakh voters under adjudication and has already led to the deletion of thousands of names — just weeks before the state assembly elections scheduled for April 23 and 29, 2026.
Advocate MD Yasin Mahalabdar, a 53-year-old practitioner since 2002, found his name deleted. Gynaecologist Dr. Khaleda Khanam — despite being a long-time resident — was similarly removed. In one booth alone in Malda’s Sujapur constituency, 427 of 522 voters were deleted from the supplementary list despite residents attending hearings and submitting all required documents. As many as 3.7 lakh of 60 lakh adjudication cases were disposed of by 768 judicial officers, with 4,422 names deleted from 137 cases under adjudication in a single booth.
Scale of the Crisis
Murshidabad accounts for 11 lakh voters in the “under adjudication” category, followed by Malda with 8.28 lakh — together nearly 20 lakh voters. The Sujapur Assembly Constituency (AC 53) in Malda holds the highest number of under-adjudication electors in the state — 1,34,521 people, or 52.50% of the entire constituency. Minority-heavy areas recorded significantly higher adjudication rates at 21.41%, compared to 10-13% in other areas.
The Election Commission released its first supplementary list on March 23, 2026, clearing 29 lakh names, but over 30 lakh citizens remain under adjudication with no clear timeline for resolution. Voters are told they can challenge decisions in appellate tribunals to be set up by the Calcutta High Court — but no timeline has been provided for these tribunals.
Legal & Constitutional Framework
- Article 326 (Adult Suffrage): Elections to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies shall be on the basis of adult suffrage — every citizen who is not less than 18 years of age and is not disqualified on grounds of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime, or corrupt practice shall be entitled to be registered as a voter.
- Article 324 (ECI Powers): Vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections in the Election Commission of India.
- Representation of the People Act, 1950: Governs voter registration, preparation of electoral rolls, and the process for inclusion and deletion of names from voter lists.
- Representation of the People Act, 1951: Deals with the conduct of elections, election disputes, and corrupt practices.
- PUCL v Union of India (2013): The Supreme Court upheld the right to NOTA (None of the Above) on EVMs, reinforcing the broader principle that the right to vote is a precious constitutional right that must be protected.
CLAT Exam Angle
- GK Section: ECI powers and functions, SIR process, West Bengal elections 2026, voter registration process, right to vote
- Legal Reasoning: Is the right to vote a fundamental right or a statutory right? (Statutory — granted under RPA 1950, not Part III), ECI’s power under Art. 324 vs. judicial review
- Passage-Based Questions: Arguments for and against mass voter list revisions near election time, balancing electoral integrity with voter access
- Constitutional Law: Art. 326 (adult suffrage), Art. 324 (ECI autonomy), 61st Amendment (voting age reduction to 18)
Key Facts at a Glance
| Issue | Mass voter list deletion under SIR process |
| Affected Districts | Murshidabad (11 lakh) and Malda (8.28 lakh) |
| Total Under Adjudication | ~60 lakh voters statewide |
| Worst Hit Constituency | Sujapur (AC 53), Malda — 52.50% under adjudication |
| Judicial Officers Deployed | 768 |
| Cases Disposed | 3.7 lakh of 60 lakh |
| Election Dates | April 23 & 29, 2026 (results May 4) |
| Constitutional Provisions | Art. 324 (ECI), Art. 326 (adult suffrage) |
Mnemonic: VOTER
Remember the key aspects of this crisis with VOTER:
- V — Verification via SIR (Special Intensive Revision)
- O — Over 60 lakh under adjudication statewide
- T — Two worst-hit districts: Murshidabad & Malda
- E — Electoral rights under Art. 326 threatened
- R — RPA 1950 governs voter registration process
Conclusion
The voter list deletion crisis in West Bengal raises fundamental questions about the balance between electoral integrity and voter access — a core constitutional concern. For CLAT aspirants, this case study illuminates the distinction between fundamental rights and statutory rights (the right to vote is statutory under RPA 1950, not a Part III fundamental right), the scope of ECI’s powers under Article 324, and the importance of adult suffrage under Article 326. The PUCL v Union of India (2013) judgment on NOTA adds another dimension to understanding voter rights in India.
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