Calcutta HC asks ECI to explain SIR process in Bengal through affidavit

Advocate Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that intimidation and threats to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were being reported and sought adequate security arrangements. The bench, however, did not issue any specific direction on this, stating that the state government could provide the necessary protection to field officials.

The PIL, filed last Friday by petitioner Pintu Karar, has sought a court-monitored SIR and an extension of the period fixed by the ECI for house-to-house voter enumeration. The plea also requested the court to seek an explanation from the ECI on the necessity of conducting the SIR in West Bengal.

The bench observed on Thursday, “The Supreme Court has mentioned about three issues. The SC has passed a number of directions regarding the SIR; are those being followed?”

Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the ECI, submitted that the Commission had incorporated the Supreme Court’s directions in the process. “The orders of the SC have been incorporated and the directions are being followed. Entire SC orders are a part of the SIR,” he said.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel questioned the use of 2002 data as the base year for the exercise and urged that the revision be carried out on the basis of updated 2025 data instead. “We want implementation of the SIR but on the basis of the electoral list of 2025, not on the basis of the 2002 list,” Bhattacharya submitted.

Responding to this, the ECI counsel said, “We are taking into account the current list of 2025 and enumeration forms will be given according to the current list. The 2002 SIR was the last one done. The names of persons from 2002 don’t have to give any supporting documents. The present SIR will be done according to the 2025 list.”