The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the formation of an appellate tribunal composed of former High Court chief justices and judges to hear appeals against exclusions from voter lists in West Bengal following a special intensive revision exercise in the state, Live Law reported.

A person whose claim for inclusion in the electoral rolls has been rejected by a judicial officer can approach the appellate tribunal, Bar and Bench quoted court as saying.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order after concerns were raised about the lack of an independent appellate mechanism to deal with appeals against the rejection of their claims by judicial officers.

The court recalled its February 24 order that said that orders passed by judicial officers would not be subjected to appeal before an executive or administrative forum, Live Law reported.

The bench directed that the Election Commission will bear the expenses for the functioning of the appellate body and for honorariums to the judicial officers involved in the exercise, Bar and Bench reported.

The bench was hearing a batch of petitions against the revision of electoral rolls in the state.

During the hearing, the court criticised the petitioners for raising questions about the competence of judicial officers who are adjudicating the claims, Live Law reported.

The chief justice was quoted as saying: “Your application is premature and...

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