Mamata Banerjee vs Election Commission: Supreme Court Orders Judicial Oversight in Bengal SIR

In the midst of West Bengal’s election preparations, the Supreme Court of India has intervened in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, directing the Calcutta High Court to appoint serving and retired judicial officers to supervise the process. The court cited a deep trust deficit between the state government and the Election Commission, making judicial oversight necessary. The SIR, aimed at updating voter lists by adding eligible voters and removing duplicates or deceased names, had sparked controversy, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging harassment and targeting of certain groups. Judicial supervision is now mandated to ensure transparency, fairness, and impartial handling of claims and objections, with the draft voter list scheduled for publication by February 28.