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Bengal SIR hearings end, nearly 5 lakh didn’t turn up

After deletion of 58 lakh names in the first phase, over 6 lakh more names likely to be out of the voters’ list

2 min readKolkataUpdated: Feb 15, 2026 08:34 AM IST

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Members of various organisations held a march in Kolkata demanding the scrapping of SIR, on Saturday. Express

As hearings for the “logical discrepancies”, a part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, formally came to an end in West Bengal on Saturday, sources in the Election Commission said that names of another 4.98 lakh people will likely be deleted from the state’s voters list since they did not turn up for the hearings.

Also, the scrutiny of the documents provided by those summoned for the hearings so far shows that 1.63 lakh people failed to show proper documents, thereby their names are most likely to be deleted, said sources in the EC.

In the first phase of the SIR, names of 58 lakh electors – nearly 8 per cent of the total 7.66 crore voters in the 2025 electoral roll — were deleted in the state on grounds of being absent, shifted, dead and duplicate.

Also Read | West Bengal SIR final roll to now be published on Feb 28

“So far, in the second phase of the SIR (in West Bengal), 6.61 lakh names have been deleted from the voters’ list. Adding to the deletions in the first phase, it totals 64 lakh names… The scrutiny of the documents will continue till February 21, and more names will likely be deleted. The final electoral rolls are slated for publication on February 28,” an EC official said.

On Monday, the Supreme Court extended the SIR deadline for West Bengal and said that the EC’s exercise cannot be obstructed. “Whatever orders or clarification are required, we will issue. But we will not allow any impediment to the SIR process. This must be understood by all states,” Chief Justice Surya Kant had said while hearing petitions filed by a TMC MP and others against the EC’s drive.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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