Sun Feb 08 07:53:02 UTC 2026: # West Bengal Offers More Officers for Electoral Roll Revision After Supreme Court Scrutiny

The Story:
The West Bengal government has responded to criticism from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Supreme Court by offering 8,505 Group B officers for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This comes after the ECI argued in court on February 4, 2026, that only 80 Grade 2 officers were initially provided by the state. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear pleas regarding the SIR process on February 9, 2026, including one filed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Key Points:

  • The West Bengal government is now offering 8,505 Group B officers for the SIR exercise.
  • The ECI previously stated that only 80 Grade 2 officers were provided by the state.
  • Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee argued in the Supreme Court on February 4, 2026, about the SIR process.
  • The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear pleas on February 9, 2026.
  • The Supreme Court has directed the ECI to ensure transparency and sensitivity in the SIR process, particularly regarding minor discrepancies in names.
  • The Supreme Court passed directions on January 19, 2026 to ensure the SIR process in West Bengal should be transparent and not cause any inconvenience.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court’s intervention has prompted a significant increase in resources offered by the West Bengal government for the electoral roll revision.
  • The dispute highlights concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in West Bengal.
  • The Supreme Court is actively monitoring the SIR process to ensure that genuine voters are not disenfranchised due to minor errors.

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