Veeramani Arrested in POCSO Case: 3 Held, Initial Police Lapses Under Lens

Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on the Bengal Special Intensive Revision matters, an affidavit filed by the Election Commission highlighted that thirty-seven lakh appeals remain pending out of over thirty-eight lakh total filings. With nineteen existing tribunals deciding only one lakh twenty-six thousand cases over six months, disposing of the backlog could take up to twelve years. The Election Commission suggested expanding tribunals to forty-two, aligning with parliamentary constituencies, and introducing software for remote hearings. The poll body also denied allegations of mass voter disenfranchisement affecting election outcomes, presenting vote margins against voter deletion data across constituencies.

A debate on student suicides and allegations of harassment in higher educational institutions brought together Professor Badri Narayan, Vice Chancellor of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and student activist Deepti Shelar. Addressing questions on institutional accountability and mental health, Professor Badri Narayan pointed out the mission under the National Education Policy to build more humane and supportive university environments. He remarked, 'Data says that many in 10 years or 20 years, more than thousands, many thousands cases happen in educational institutions', stressing that faculty and peer groups must remain vigilant to identify distress early. Meanwhile, Deepti Shelar highlighted student unrest over alleged caste discrimination and demanded strict administrative accountability, including the immediate removal of officials accused of pressurizing students. Professor Badri Narayan noted that ongoing police inspections are probing circumstances, warning against rushing to conclusions as investigations examine whether issues stem from societal factors, opinion polarization, or mental health pressures.

In an interview, Dr. Himanshu Rai, Director of the Indian Institute of Management Indore, addressed institutional protocols regarding caste harassment allegations and academic malpractice. He emphasized the distinction between internal inquiries and police probes under the SC/ST Act, stating, "The solidarity is absolutely legitimate. The prejudgment is not, and therefore, a faculty association is perfectly entitled to say that a colleague deserves due process." Discussing student discipline and tragic outcomes, he stated that an academic violation and a caste discrimination complaint must be assessed independently, noting that academic rules must be enforced regardless.

The Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls has triggered controversy across West Bengal and Delhi. In West Bengal, over 37 lakh appeals remain pending before tribunals following the deletion of approximately 27 lakh voters. Based on the Election Commission of India's affidavit before the Supreme Court, disposing of this massive backlog at the current monthly pace of around 25,238 cases could take nearly 12 years. To accelerate hearings, the poll panel has sought to increase the number of appellate tribunals from 19 to 42. Meanwhile, in Delhi, 33.3 lakh voters have received revision notices over discrepancies such as unmapped records from the 2002 voter list, name mismatches, and age differences. High-profile figures, including Union Ministers, former and current Chief Ministers, and senior officials, have received notices. The Election Commission clarified that issuing a notice does not equate to deletion, ensuring that no name will be removed without a hearing, while the opposition alleges large-scale voter exclusion.