Bengal SIR Hearing Updates: EC ‘WhatsApp commission’, SIR to ‘bulldoze’ people: Mamata Banerjee; SC issues notice to poll panel

Mamata: My last submission. They deleted 58 lakh and have not scope of appeal even form 6. They are only targeting Bengal. Only for Bengal they are appointed micro-observers. Only for Bengal they appointed these micro observers to bulldoze the people of Bengal. My submission is the logical discrepancy case not to be deleted and as it is it should be cleared not by the micro-observers.

I convey my regards to the court. Safe democracy, she says.

The CM says the process is 'anti-women'. They are not allowing the domicile certificates, she submits.

Mamata questions what was the hurry? "What takes two years is happening in three months. More than 100 people died. Many BLOs committed suicide," she says. Bengal is targeted. Why not Assam?

CJI: Madam Mamata, let me clarify two-three things, about the Adhaar card, this matter is about SIR validity issue. It is being argued before us for the last two months. We have reserved the judgment therefore we are not in a position to comment with regard to credibility or admissibility about the adhaar. that issue has been argued and we have reserved judgment.

CJI: Second you have pointed out the issue of discrepancy. In this case one way can be you can give a team of officers, the EC can take them that those can also be part of the EC team, verify whether it is a spelling mistake or it is only because of local dialect

Mamata says, If allowed she can place some photographs before the court. "Suppose a daughter after getting married, if she changes title, it's also mismatched," she submits.

Banerjee says justice is crying behind doors.

Diwan: This is one of our grievances that panchayat residence certificate , the family registers, the domicile certificates, Adhaar cards, OBC certificates and land allotment certificates , none of these are being accepted despite the orders of the court.

He takes the bench through numbers. Says number of days left for final publication of electoral rolls, 11 days. Number of days left to complete hearings, four. Number of voters characterised as unmapped at present are 32 lakhs. Post draft roll remains at 1.36 crore (20% of electorate).

Senior advocate Shyam Diwan appearing for the CM starts making submissions. Diwan refers to Court's last order issuing directions to ECI (regarding logical discrepancy category).

Banerjee, in her plea has sought setting aside of the ECI's SIR notification dated June 24, 2025 and October 27, 2025.

In a letter dated January 3 to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee accused the poll panel of overseeing an “unplanned, ill-prepared and ad hoc” process marred by “serious irregularities, procedural violations and administrative lapses”.

Heavy security deployed at Supreme Court, ahead of the hearing into SIR (Special Intensive Revision) and appearance of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee before the apex court.

In New Delhi on Wednesday Express photo By Amit Mehra.

Banerjee filed her petition on January 28, naming the ECI and the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer as respondents.

Additionally, she has sought directions restraining electoral authorities from calling voters for hearings in cases involving name mismatches or spelling variations classified as “logical discrepancies”, urging that such corrections be made suo motu on the basis of available records.

Banerjee holds a law degree from Jogesh Chandra Choudhury College of Law, Calcutta, and last practised as an advocate in 2003.