Mamata Banerjee Appears in Supreme Court Over Bengal Voter Roll Revision
Zoom Chronicle News | New Delhi:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday appeared before the Supreme Court to argue her case against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. A trained advocate, Banerjee filed an interlocutory application seeking permission to present arguments herself. According to her plea, the SIR process threatens electoral fairness ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Therefore, she has demanded that polls be conducted using the 2025 voters’ list.
CM Seeks Quashing of Election Commission Orders
In her petition, Banerjee has challenged several directives issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Specifically, she has sought the cancellation of SIR-related orders dated June 24, 2025, and October 27, 2025, along with connected instructions. Moreover, she has argued that the revision exercise could disenfranchise genuine voters. As a result, she wants the court to halt the current process until proper safeguards are in place.
Supreme Court Bench to Hear Batch of Petitions
Meanwhile, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi is scheduled to hear a batch of related petitions. These include pleas filed by Banerjee, Mostari Banu, and Trinamool Congress MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen. Notably, during the previous hearing on January 12, the Supreme Court directed the ECI to make the SIR exercise more transparent and voter-friendly. The bench had expressed concern over the stress faced by ordinary citizens, especially after notices were issued to over one crore people.
Timeline of SIR and Political Implications
The Election Commission launched the SIR process in West Bengal on November 4, 2025. Subsequently, it published the draft electoral roll on December 16. The deadline for filing claims and objections ended on January 19. The final voter list is expected on February 14, although authorities may extend the date depending on court proceedings. Meanwhile, Banerjee’s direct appearance marks a major escalation in her confrontation with the ECI. Politically, the case could shape the conduct of the next Assembly elections and influence voter confidence in the electoral process.
