SC Directs Calcutta HC to Deploy Judicial Officers for Bengal SIR

In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India on Friday, February 20, 2026, issued a directive to the Calcutta High Court to depute both current and former judicial officers to assist in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. This extraordinary step was taken by a Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria, citing a profound "trust deficit" and an "unfortunate blame game" prevailing between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the electoral revision process. The Supreme Court underscored the unusual nature of the situation, stating that it was compelled to invoke its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure the integrity and fairness of the SIR. This Article grants the Supreme Court special powers to pass orders necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. The intervention came amidst allegations from the Election Commission of India concerning violence, threats, intimidation, and obstruction against its officials during the SIR exercise in West Bengal. The ECI had highlighted instances of protests, vandalism, and political interference, claiming that the sanctity of the 2025 electoral rolls was questionable due to a large number of identified absent, dead, and shifted voters. The directive mandates that serving and former judicial officers, specifically of the rank of District Judges or Additional District Judges, will adjudicate claims and objections related to the inclusion and exclusion of names in the voter list, particularly focusing on cases involving "logical discrepancies." The court clarified that these judicial officers would be assisted by micro-observers from the ECI and state officials deputed for the SIR, but the final decision on voter inclusion or exclusion would rest with the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). The Supreme Court emphasized that orders passed by these judicial officers would be considered orders of the court, thereby obliging local authorities, including district collectors and police superintendents, to provide full logistical support and security to facilitate their work. This judicial intervention follows a contentious period marked by disputes between the West Bengal government and the ECI over the SIR. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had personally appeared before the Supreme Court, challenging the SIR exercise and alleging that it was designed to "bulldoze" the people of Bengal and was disproportionately focused on deleting names rather than ensuring comprehensive inclusion. The state government had been accused by the ECI of reluctance to provide sufficient Grade 'A' officers for the revision exercise and of causing delays in submitting lists of Group B officers for SIR duties. Earlier hearings saw the Supreme Court extending deadlines for objections in the West Bengal SIR case and directing the state government to make available officers for SIR duties. The Court had also sought a personal affidavit from the West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) in response to ECI's complaints about threats and violence against election officials, noting that previous directions to maintain law and order seemed to have been disregarded. The Supreme Court had unequivocally stated that it would not tolerate any impediment to the SIR process in any state, asserting that the Constitution must apply to all states. The apex court's decision to involve judicial officers is seen as an "extraordinary measure" to restore confidence and impartiality in the electoral roll revision, which is crucial for upcoming elections. The Bench expressed concern that if the SIR process was not completed, there would be serious consequences. It suggested that if judicial officers were not brought in, then IAS officers from other states might have to be deployed. The West Bengal government, through its counsel Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, indicated that it had no objection to the appointment of judicial officers. The court also ordered the Election Commission to publish the processed list of electoral rolls on February 28, with any remaining inclusions or exclusions to be published as a supplementary roll. This comprehensive intervention aims to resolve the deadlock and ensure a fair and transparent electoral roll in West Bengal.

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