New Delhi, FEB 4: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally appeared before the Supreme Court on Wednesday to contest the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing the exercise as a mechanism for “deletion, not inclusion.” The Chief Minister argued that the process is causing widespread disenfranchisement across the state just before the 2026 Assembly elections.
Addressing a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Banerjee claimed that West Bengal is being unfairly singled out for the revision. She mentioned that legitimate voters, particularly women who changed their surnames after marriage, are being removed from the rolls over minor spelling discrepancies.
“Justice is crying behind the door,” Banerjee said during her rare in-person submission. She noted that the stress of the exercise has allegedly led to the deaths of over 100 individuals, including booth-level officers.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the Election Commission’s methods, labeling the body a “WhatsApp Commission” for allegedly issuing informal instructions via messaging apps. She further alleged that 8,000 micro-observers, whom she linked to the BJP, were appointed to facilitate the removal of names from the voter list.
Responding to these claims, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Election Commission, said the micro-observers were necessary due to a lack of cooperation from the state government in providing required personnel. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also mentioned an “atmosphere of hostility” toward election officials in the state.
“Every problem has a solution, and we must ensure that no innocent person is left out,” Chief Justice Surya Kant said. He instructed the commission to be sensitive toward voters and avoid issuing notices for simple spelling errors.
The court has issued a notice to the Election Commission and scheduled the next hearing for February 9. Meanwhile, the bench indicated it might consider the withdrawal of micro-observers if the state provides eligible officers to assist in the verification process.
