The Supreme Court on Monday firmly stated that it will not allow anyone to create any impediment in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, issuing a clear directive to all states amid heated legal proceedings focused on West Bengal.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria (or Vipul M. Pancholi in related reports), made the observation while hearing a batch of petitions challenging aspects of the SIR exercise in West Bengal. This included a plea filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has raised concerns over potential "mass exclusion" of voters, the categorization of entries in the "logical discrepancy" list, and the deployment of micro-observers.
"We will not allow anyone to create any impediment in the SIR exercise. It must be clear to the states," the CJI emphasized, according to multiple reports from PTI, Live Law, and other sources. The court stressed that while it may issue necessary directions or clarifications on procedural matters to ensure fairness, the core process of revising electoral rolls — aimed at verifying eligible voters and removing ineligible or duplicate entries — must proceed without obstruction.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has alleged obstructions in West Bengal, including claims of miscreants burning its notices and threats or violence against officials involved in the SIR. The Supreme Court took note of an ECI affidavit on these issues and directed the state's Director General of Police to file a personal affidavit responding to the allegations.
In a practical step to address logistical concerns raised during the hearing, such as staffing shortages and the need for more time to scrutinize claims and objections, the court extended the deadline for completing scrutiny in West Bengal by at least one week beyond the original February 14 target for publishing the final electoral roll. It also directed the state government to immediately deploy Group B officers to assist the ECI and clarified that only Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) hold the authority to make final decisions on inclusions or exclusions, with micro-observers limited to an assistive role.
The SIR exercise, a comprehensive door-to-door verification of voter lists, has been rolled out in multiple states and Union Territories following its implementation in places like Bihar. It has sparked debates over voter inclusion, documentary requirements, and potential disenfranchisement of vulnerable groups. The Supreme Court's strong message underscores its commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process under Article 324 of the Constitution, which vests the ECI with superintendence over elections.
The hearing reflects broader tensions between state governments and the ECI on the conduct of such revisions, particularly in politically sensitive regions ahead of elections. The court indicated it would continue intervening as needed but reiterated that no disruptions would be tolerated. Further proceedings in related matters are expected as the SIR progresses nationwide.
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