The Supreme Court heard a petition filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the Election Commission of India over the conduct of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. The TMC supremo personally addressed the Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi. During the proceedings, Banerjee alleged large-scale wrongful deletions of voters ahead of assembly elections.
SC issues notice to Election Commission on West Bengal SIR dispute
Challenging the legality of SIR, Mamata Banerjee claimed that ECI was targeting only West Bengal as micro-observers were not appointed in other states, including Assam, where the process was being carried out. Following this, the Bench issued a notice to the Election Commission on the appointment of micro-observers.
“We cannot grant the luxury of one more week”: CJI
The Court noted that the entire procedure is governed by a strict timeline, which had already been extended by ten days, and that only four days now remain. “We cannot grant the luxury of one more week,” the Chief Justice observed, while emphasising that “every problem has a solution so that no innocent citizen is left out.”
Senior Advocate representing petitioners questions appointment of micro-observers
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, highlighted what he termed as serious procedural difficulties. He placed before the Court data indicating that 32 lakh voters were marked as unmapped, 1.36 crore entries, nearly 20% of the electorate, were flagged under the logical discrepancy list, and around 63 lakh hearings were still pending.
He also questioned the appointment of 8,300 micro observers, arguing that they lack statutory backing and are rejecting valid documents such as Aadhaar, domicile and caste certificates. Responding to concerns about communication, the Chief Justice noted that the list was not the sole mode and that individual notices were also being issued.
Senior Advocate representing ECI defends appointment
Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Election Commission of India (ECI), submitted that all notices contain reasons and that voters were permitted to act through authorised agents. He defended the appointment of micro observers, stating that the State government failed to provide adequate Group B/Class II officers despite repeated requests, leaving the Commission with no alternative.
Mamata Banerjee alleges SIR was being used only for…
Addressing the Court directly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the SIR process was being used only for the deletion of names, disproportionately affecting women, migrants, and the poor. She questioned the timing of the exercise after 24 years, its conduct during harvesting season, and claimed that people were being declared dead despite being alive.
She further alleged that Bengal was being singled out, while asking why similar exercises were not undertaken in other States such as Assam. Urging the Court’s intervention, she said, “Please protect the people’s rights. We are grateful.”
Seeking a practical resolution, the Chief Justice directed the State to provide, by Monday, a list of Group B officers who can be spared to assist in the exercise. The Bench ordered the issuance of notice in both petitions and directed that a connected matter, in which the ECI has already filed an affidavit, also be listed on Monday. The Court said all issues would be heard together on the next date. The hearing concluded with the Court assuring that the matter would receive urgent and comprehensive consideration. (With inputs from ANI)
