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Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announces plans to challenge the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in court, highlighting deaths, harassment, and voter distress, and promising to take the matter to the Supreme Court if needed.
Mamata Banerjee to seek legal intervention over SIR in Bengal.
Kolkata: Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced today that she will pursue legal action to contest the ongoing Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of voter lists in the state. Speaking ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, she emphasized that the process has caused widespread distress, including deaths and harassment of poll officials and voters. Banerjee stated that if necessary, she would represent the affected individuals in the Supreme Court to ensure their voices are heard and their rights protected.
The second phase of SIR has reportedly transformed routine voter verification into a source of anxiety and tension across both urban and rural Bengal. Block offices and hearing centres have become sites of stress for many, especially elderly, disabled, and vulnerable voters. Citizens are reportedly traveling long distances, sometimes on stretchers or with assistance, and daily wage earners are losing income to ensure their eligibility. The emotional strain highlights the human cost of what is intended as a technical administrative exercise.
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According to the Election Commission, 91.46 lakh cases of logical discrepancies have been identified during progeny-mapping as part of the SIR process. These cases are in addition to 58.20 lakh excluded voters and 30 lakh unmapped voters, who have not been able to establish links with the 2002 voter list through self-mapping or progeny-mapping. Such numbers indicate the magnitude of administrative challenges and the potential impact on voter participation.
In November, a delegation of ten Trinamool Congress MPs met the Election Commission to voice concerns about the SIR process, describing it as unplanned and heartless. The party claims that 40 election officials have died amid the ongoing revisions. Additionally, the Bengal police have registered two cases against the Election Commission following complaints from families of voters who passed away after receiving SIR hearing notices. These developments have intensified political and public scrutiny over the process.
The Election Commission has rejected the allegations, calling them premeditated, unsubstantiated, and an attempt to intimidate officers. In an official statement, the Commission said that attempts to pressure the election machinery into submission are likely to fail, and affirmed that the SIR process continues according to established protocols. Despite the official defense, the debate over voter hardships and administrative procedures continues to dominate discussions ahead of the state elections.
