EC Vs Didi On SIR: Mamata Banerjee May Become 1st Sitting CM To Argue Own Case In SC Today

Last Updated:February 04, 2026, 09:40 IST

CM Mamata Banerjee, who holds an LLB degree, is likely to seek permission from Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to make submissions in person.

Mamata Banerjee has filed as ‘party in person’, likely to argue before SC bench in Bengal SIR case.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may become the first sitting chief minister to personally argue her own case before the Supreme Court, if permitted, when her petition challenging the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls comes up for hearing today.

As per reports, CM Banerjee, who holds an LLB degree, is likely to seek permission from Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to make submissions in person. She has filed an interim application through her legal team requesting the court’s approval. A pass has also been issued in her name for entry into the Supreme Court premises, signalling her expected presence.

Mamata is likely to reach the court by 10 a.m.

Hearing before CJI-led bench

A bench comprising the Chief Justice of India and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi will hear a batch of pleas filed by Banerjee, Trinamool Congress MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, and petitioner Mostari Banu. According to CNN News18 sources, Banerjee has filed her petition as a “party in person".

In her application, Banerjee said she is well acquainted with the facts of the case and aware of the court’s decorum and procedures. She undertook to follow established rules and practices. The application also stated that she is familiar with the ground realities faced by residents during the SIR exercise.

Banerjee earlier said she was “knocking on every door" to protect democracy and brought alleged victims of the SIR exercise before the media.

What the Supreme Court earlier directed

During the January 19 hearing, the court directed the Election Commission to ensure transparency and avoid inconvenience to voters. It ordered that names flagged under “logical discrepancies" be displayed at gram panchayat bhavans and block offices, where voters could submit documents and objections.

The EC defined “logical discrepancies" as inconsistencies linking voters to the 2002 electoral roll, such as parent name mismatches or age gaps below 15 years or above 50 years. The bench noted that nearly 1.25 crore voters had been placed under this category.

Mamata’s petition and reliefs sought

CM Banerjee moved the court on January 28, naming the Election Commission and the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer as parties. Her petition seeks dismantling of the SIR exercise and conducting the 2026 assembly elections strictly on the existing 2025 voter list.

She has sought quashing of SIR-related orders issued on June 24 and October 27, 2025, and directions for suo motu corrections in cases flagged for spelling variations and name mismatches. Among other reliefs, she has asked that Aadhaar be accepted as proof of identity, prior notices be withdrawn, and Form 7 recipients be published online.

Supreme Court’s earlier observations

On January 12, a bench led by the Chief Justice of India noted the “stress and strain" on ordinary voters, observing that over one crore people had received notices. The court directed that voters receive proper intimation, assistance, and opportunity to respond, and expanded hearing venues to local offices.

Banerjee’s petition follows challenges filed by other TMC leaders. Her personal intervention adds a political dimension to the dispute ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. On January 29, the Supreme Court reserved orders on similar petitions challenging the SIR conducted in Bihar.

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