Partly trueTrick: Emotional words

The claims are verified. Official minutes show at least 12 of 19 retired judges flagged severe portal gaps, and a judge's letter accused the ECI of feeding incorrect disposal data to the press.

Some of it's right, some isn't. Reel by @fourthpillar.in · checked 8 Oct 2026 · Politics

The Reel we checked

@fourthpillar.in

The Indian Express has published another investigation raising questions over the ECI’s portal used by Bengal SIR tribunals. According to the report, more than…

Watch the Reel on Instagram ↗

🚩 What's concerning

Lapse

The Election Commission failed to implement a mechanism on the ECINET portal to serve notices to parties directly, despite multiple requests and reminders since May 2026.

"This gap existed “in spite of several requests and reminders to develop a common and proper mechanism on the portal to serve notice to the parties directly”" Scroll, 2026-10-06

Lapse

All voter-appeal tribunals in West Bengal were rendered functionless and unable to upload orders starting September 21, 2026, due to a stand-off over Aadhaar login requirements.

"since Sept 21, 2026, all tribunals have been unable to upload their orders... we are practically rendered functionless" Times of India, 2026-10-01

The trick: Emotional words

It uses emotionally charged words to steer your reaction (known as loaded language).

"चुनाव आयोग की विफलता देखिए"

Framing technical portal difficulties as total administrative failure preempts technical explanations or ongoing fixes.

How this trick works and how to answer it →

What we checked

✓

The Indian Express published an investigation stating that more than a dozen tribunal judges flagged issues with the ECI portal used for Bengal SIR appeals.Scroll

✓

About a dozen retired high court judges stated in a meeting that the Election Commission's portal does not allow them to send notices to different parties.Scroll

✓

Tribunal judges cannot upload additional documents received from appealing voters onto the ECI portal.The Wire

A judge wrote a letter stating that the Election Commission gave incorrect data to the press and concealed a crucial fact.No reliable source found for this yet.

What the Reel doesn't tell you

The Election Commission announced it would set up an independent committee with experts to review the functioning of the ECINET portal.

What each side says

Election Commission of India (ECI)The ECI announced the formation of an independent committee with experts to review the functioning of the ECINET digital platform. The Wire

Tribunal judges (Retired High Court judges)Tribunal judges stated that portal limitations and requirements rendered them practically functionless and unable to upload orders. Times of India

How it tries to persuade you

It wants you to think: "The Election Commission is intentionally or incompetently obstructing justice for deleted voters in West Bengal."

While the technical failures are severe and verified, the evidence does not establish a deliberate motive to obstruct justice; the ECI has since announced an independent expert committee to review the portal's functioning.

Loaded language as a conclusion: "लेकिन चुनाव आयोग की विफलता देखिए।". By framing technical portal difficulties as a total administrative failure right at the start, the creator preempts any technical explanation or ongoing fixes, guiding the viewer to see malice instead of system bugs.
Appeal to authority: "High Court के उन्नीस retired judge". The creator highlights the prestigious status of the retired High Court judges to make the technical complaints about the portal sound like a definitive legal condemnation of the Election Commission.

Does this look wrong?

Check a Reel yourself

Send any Reel to @checkthis.chat on Instagram. You get a reply like this in a minute or two.

Send a Reel