The Supreme Court of India announced on Monday that individuals whose appeals against exclusion from the voter list remain unresolved will not be allowed to vote in the upcoming elections in West Bengal. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that more than 34 lakh appeals have been lodged by individuals contesting their non-inclusion in the electoral rolls. The bench asserted that permitting these individuals to vote would be unjust to those already on the list. Justice Bagchi indicated that names of those whose appeals are settled by April 9 would be added to the voter list. The court also directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to report on the political context surrounding protests in Malda district against voter deletions. The bench raised concerns about discrepancies in the Election Commission of India's (ECI) handling of doubtful voters in West Bengal, highlighting that voters are caught between conflicting constitutional authorities. Justice Bagchi emphasized that the election process should not be interrupted unless there is substantial voter exclusion, reinforcing the continuous nature of the right to vote.