CM Mamata Banerjee had earlier approached the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution, assailing the SIR exercise in the state. West Bengal SIR Hearing Updates: While hearing the pleas challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken in the state of West Bengal, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court to request few former CJs and two-three judges of the high court, preferably Calcutta or neighbouring states, to hear the appeal of those persons whose claim for inclusion has been rejected by the Judicial officers. The top court directed the ECI to issue a notification in consultation with CJ of Calcutta HC notifying the former CJ/judges as the appellate tribunal.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Joymalya bagchi heard the matter today.
Directions passed by Supreme Court: The bench passed the following directions today-
‘1) The ECI will ensure that no mandatory step which may cause disruption in the process will be introduced unless approved by CJ Calcutta HC.
2) The portal technical issues causing disruptions prior to March 7 2026 will be effectively addressed ensuring that no such disruptions take place.
3) New login IDs shall be created as and when required by the judicial officers without wasting any time.
4) During the course of hearing senior counsel for petitioners have pointed out- 1) mechanism of appeal by those persons whose claim for inclusion has been rejected by the JOs 2) publication of supplementary list particularly when more than 101600 objections have been disposed of.
As regard to the first issue, our order dated February 24 points out that the orders passed by the judicial officers will not be subjected to appeal before administrative/executive officers. That being so and what has been transpired during hearing the CJ of Calcutta may request some former CJ and two-three judges of the high court, preferably Calcutta or neighbouring states who shall be notified as the appellate tribunal. The ECI shall issue a notification in consultation with CJ of Calcutta HC notifying the former CJ/judges as the appellate tribunal.
Both sides shall be at liberty to approach the CJ of the high court for the purpose of publication of the supplementary list of the persons whose objections already stand disposed of. Once the CJ of the high court makes the recommendations to this effect, the ECI shall do the needful immediately.’
Previous hearings: Earlier the top court had allowed the deployment of judicial officers from Odisha and Jharkhand for completing the adjudication of claims and objections of persons included in the “logical discrepancy/unmapped category”. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi also said that the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court can depute civil judges, if needed.
On February 20, the court, while taking note of the “trust deficit” between the state government and the Election Commission of India (ECI), had directed deployment of serving and former district judges of West Bengal for deciding claims and objections.
“In order to ensure fairness in the adjudication of the genuineness of documents relied upon and consequential determination of inclusion or exclusion in the voter list and as agreed to by both sides, we are left hardly any option but to request the CJ of high court at Calcutta to spare some serving judicial officers along with former judicial officers at the rank of additional or district judges who can then in each district be requested to revisit/dispose of claims under the category of logical discrepancy,” the apex court had said.
The top court earlier today directed that the CJ of Calcutta may request some former CJ and two-three judges of the high court, preferably Calcutta or neighbouring states to hear the appeal of those persons whose claim for inclusion has been rejected by the Judicial officers. The top court directed the ECI to issue a notification in consultation with CJ of Calcutta HC notifying the former CJ/judges as the appellate tribunal.
The top court today directed the ECI to provide full logistical support to the Calcutta High Court and all the judicial officers in completion of responsibility of duties assigned to them by the court.
Bench: Both sides shall be at liberty to approach the CJ of the HC for the publication of supplementary list for those whose names have been included. We leave it to the CJ of HC to decide how many judges shall be there in the appellate bench.
Hearing concludes for the day.
Bench: State govt has been directed to provide security conveyance and accommodation to every deployed officer throughout this exercise. We are sure but as a precaution direct the state govt that all necessary facility shall be provided to the officers for their functioning. The CJ has informed that all orders and updates have been disseminated at real time via HC's telegram group and email across all districts simultaneous. Adverting to the issues which are required to be addressed we deem it appropriate to issue following directions:
1) The ECI will ensure that no mandatory step which may cause disruption in the process will be introduced unless approved by CJ Calcutta HC.
2) The portal technical issues causing disruptions prior to March 7 2026 will be effectively addressed ensuring that no such disruptions take place.
3) New login IDs shall be created as and when required by the judicial officers without wasting any time.
4) During the course of hearing senior counsel for petitioners have pointed out- 1) mechanism of appeal by those persons whose claim for inclusion has been rejected by the JOs 2) publication of supplementary list particularly when more than 1016000 objections have been disposed of.
As regard to the first issue, our order dated February 24 points out that the orders passed by the judicial officers will not be subjected to appeal before administrative/executive officers. That being so and what has been transpired during hearing the CJ of Calcutta may request some former CJ and two-three judges of the high court, preferably Calcutta or neighbouring states who shall be notified as the appellate tribunal. The ECI shall issue a notification in consultation with CJ of Calcutta HC notifying the former CJ/judges as the appellate tribunal.
Both sides shall be at liberty to approach the CJ of the high court for the purpose of publication of the supplementary list of the persons whose objections already stand disposed of. Once the CJ of the high court makes the recommendations to this effect, the ECI shall do the needful immediately.
Bench: In continuation of order dated February 24 2026, Hon'ble CJ of High Court of Calcutta through his communication dated 10 march has informed that 10,16000 plus objections have been disposed of in . He has further informed that 500 plus judicial officers from WB duly supplemented by 200 officers from Orissa and Jharkhand have been deployed and working day and night. The communication informs that till 8 march 709 login ids have been created for smooth mobilization and redeployment of judicial officers in sensitive districts.
However the judicial officers/Hon'ble CJ has experienced an urgent difficulty which seems to have been due to the mistake at the level of ECI the same have been brought to notice of senior advocate DS Naidu for ECI who assures that the same shall be rectified immediately. We strongly recommend the ECI to provide full logistical support to the High Court at Calcutta and all the judicial officers in completion of responsibility of duties which we have assigned to them
Dama Sheshadri Naidu for ECI: Whatever is directed, we are implementing
CJI: We are doubting the bona fide of both sides
Bench: Till now notification hasn’t come out for elections. We will take the call once it’s out
Bench: Let the supplementary list be published
Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee: We want two things Supplementary list should be published. Deletion. Appeal by CO directing… all appeals on ground of rejection should be marked to coo.
CJI: Look at the prayer, direct ECI to withdraw all cases… completely in teeth of the directions we have given
Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy for petitioners: We are not questioning Judicial Officers
CJI: You don't know the story...this is absolutely premature
Senior advocate Guruswamy: I am not on the application
CJI: One petitioner has filed the application
Senior advocate Guruswamy: We don't know who. Not us. I am on this - Judicial Officers have 50 lakh cases broadly. 47 lakhs are mapped. These are genuine bonafide voters.
CJI: Those who are genuine will be included. Judicial officers are doing the exercise.
Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy for petitioners: About 7 lakh claims have been decided by the judicial officers. 63 lakh was under adjudication. 57 lakhs are remaining.
CJI: We knew you people will run away when judicial officers are appointed. HC Chief justice has told us 10 lakhs decided. Today morning we are informed. Your application is premature and it shows as if you don't have trust. How did you dare such applications are filed? No one should dare question the judicial officers
The Supreme Court is now hearing new petition filed against the deletion of voters in the state of West Bengal
The hearing of the matter is yet to commence
Earlier the CJI said that on February 22 he had received a communication from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court stating that while there are 50 lakh cases of logical discrepancy/unmapped categories to be decided, only 250 judicial officers were available for such duties. Even if one officer was to decide 250 matters a day, it would take at least 80 days to complete the process.
The Supreme Court on February 20 had asked the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to appoint judicial officers for deciding claims, objections in the ongoing SIR exercise in the state of West Bengal after the court noted an unfortunate blame game and trust deficit between the state government and the election commission of India.
The election commission also informed that 60 lakh, six thousand, six hundred and seventy-five (60,06,675) voters are under adjudication in the state. Before the SIR exercise, the state had seven crore, sixty six lakh, thirty-seven thousand, five hundred twenty-nine voters (7,66,37,529). The final voter list includes 3,60,22,642 male voters, 3,44,35,260 female voters and 1,382 voters of the third gender.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) published the final electoral roll after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal on Saturday. According to Manoj Agarwal, Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, 63 lakh, 66 thousand nine hundred and fifty-two (63,66,952) voters have been deleted in the final list. Meanwhile, 1,82,036 voters were added under Form 6 and 6A and 6,671 voters were added to the list under Form 8. After the second phase of SIR, West Bengal now has 7,04,59,284 voters.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Joymalya bagchi will hear the matter today.
