Wed Feb 04 07:56:06 UTC 2026: # Supreme Court Hears Challenge to West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision, Chief Minister Banerjee Appears in Person

The Story

On February 4, 2026, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appeared in person before a Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to challenge the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in West Bengal. Ms. Banerjee has been a vocal critic of the SIR, which resulted in the deletion of over 58 lakh names from the state’s electoral rolls, citing concerns about discrepancies such as unusually high young deaths, gender bias in deletions, and disproportionate impact on certain communities.

The hearing saw arguments from both Ms. Banerjee, representing herself and the State of West Bengal, and the ECI. The Chief Justice acknowledged the issues raised and emphasized the need to ensure no innocent citizen is left out of the electoral roll. The Court also addressed concerns about “logical discrepancies” in names and the acceptance of relevant documents.

Key Points

  • West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appeared in person before the Supreme Court on February 4, 2026, to challenge the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
  • Over 58 lakh electors’ names were deleted from West Bengal’s draft electoral roll following the SIR.
  • Discrepancies flagged include unusually high young deaths, gender bias, and disproportionate impact on specific communities.
  • Ms. Banerjee alleges the SIR process is designed for division, not inclusion, and that victims are not given an opportunity to defend themselves.
  • The Supreme Court acknowledged the problems raised, including misspellings and logical discrepancies, and emphasized the need for solutions and timelines.
  • The Court criticized the Election Commission previously for the “stress and strain” caused to ordinary people by the SIR.

Key Takeaways

  • The Supreme Court is taking seriously the concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal.
  • The appearance of a sitting Chief Minister in person before the Supreme Court highlights the gravity of the situation and the political stakes involved.
  • The issues raised, including potential disenfranchisement and discrepancies in the electoral rolls, have significant implications for the integrity of the electoral process in West Bengal and, potentially, future elections.

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