The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused urgent listing of a writ petition challenging the move of the State of West Bengal to deny ration benefits to persons excluded from the voters' list after the Special Intensive Revision(SIR).

Saying that the High Court can be approached for the relief, a partial working days bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Joymalya Bagchi declined the oral plea made by Advocate S Prasanna, who mentioned the matter for urgent listing. The petition was filed by a Bengal-based farm labour union, Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity.  

Justice Nagarathna asked Prasanna why a writ petition under Article 32 has been filed in the Supreme Court, instead of approaching the High Court.

The counsel replied that it was a pan-India issue, as many other States are also following the West Bengal Government's step of denying welfare measures to SIR-excluded persons. Since the Supreme Court has upheld the SIR process, it is the appropriate forum to deal with the issue, he submitted.

However, the bench disagreed, saying that this was a different cause of action. Noting that the Calcutta High Court has re-opened after summer vacations, Justice Nagarathna said, "Please take it to the Calcutta High Court."