English
English
English
Why is West Bengal being singled out? Appearing in person before the Supreme Court, CM Mamata Banerjee questioned the SIR exercise and appointment of micro-observers only in Bengal, prompting the court to seek a response from the Election Commission.
Mamata Banerjee questions Supreme Court the hurry in conducting SIR exercise
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appeared in person before the Supreme Court on Tuesday to challenge the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted in the State. The matter was heard by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
Banerjee questioned why West Bengal was being singled out for heightened scrutiny when the same exercise was underway in other States. She argued that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had adopted a selective approach by appointing micro-observers only in Bengal and not elsewhere.
WB: CM Mamata Banerjee reaches Supreme Court as SIR hearing continues under tight security
The Chief Minister moved an interlocutory application seeking permission to present her arguments in person, which was allowed by the court. After hearing her submissions, the Bench issued a notice to the Election Commission, seeking its response specifically on the appointment of micro-observers in West Bengal.
The court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for Monday, February 9.
Raising serious concerns over the SIR process, Ms. Banerjee pointed out that the draft electoral roll for the first phase was published on December 16, 2025. She claimed that more than 58 lakh voters’ names were deleted during the revision, leading to widespread discrepancies.
According to the Chief Minister, several irregularities were observed in the revised rolls, including unusually high numbers of young voters being shown as deceased, gender-based disparities in deletions, and certain communities being disproportionately affected.
‘SIR happening only in non-BJP states, AI being misused’: Mamata Banerjee lashes at EC again
Addressing the Bench, Ms. Banerjee said the exercise was being rushed without adequate safeguards and transparency. She reiterated that the presence of micro-observers exclusively in West Bengal raised questions about fairness and intent.
“They are only targeting West Bengal,” she submitted, adding that such actions could undermine democratic processes. Making an emotional appeal, the Chief Minister urged the court to intervene, stating that her plea was aimed at protecting the sanctity of elections.
After issuing notice to the Election Commission, the Bench concluded the proceedings for the day. The case will now be taken up again next week, when the court is expected to hear the ECI’s response on the concerns raised regarding the SIR exercise and the appointment of micro-observers.
