SC Clarifies: Electoral Roll Deletion Doesn't Automatically Strip Citizenship

The Supreme Court clarified that deletion from electoral rolls doesn't automatically strip Indian citizenship, stressing the Election Commission's role is limited to maintaining rolls, not determining citizenship. A petition sought reforms in the appeals process for those removed during West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision, with around 34 lakh appeals pending. The petitioner argued that welfare benefits are being denied despite pending appeals, with nearly 70% of decided appeals being allowed. The Court tagged the matter with pending petitions challenging the West Bengal SIR exercise.