West Bengal SIR hearing: Over 59.15 lakh out of over 60 lakh objections decided by judicial officers on April 6, Chief Justice of Calcutta HC tells SC

New Delhi: View of the Supreme Court of India, in New Delhi, Monday, May 5, 2025. The Supreme Court on Monday said the pleas challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act's constitutional validity will be taken up by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India-designate Justice B R Gavai on May 15. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)(PTI05_05_2025_000098A) | Photo Credit: th-online Administrator

The Supreme Court on March 10, 2026, asked the West Bengal Government and the Election Commission to provide all logistical support to judicial officers in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the State. The bench said that judicial officers, deployed in the SIR process, so far have dealt with 10.16 lakh objections and claims of those facing deletion from the electoral rolls.

The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court wrote to the Supreme Court, stating that over 10 lakh objections from those facing deletion from the electoral roll in the ongoing SIR exercise in the State. Over 500 judicial officers from West Bengal are functioning as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), and are working overnight, cancelling holidays and even Sundays, it was noted. 200 judicial officers have been drawn from neighbouring Odisha and Jharkhand.

The court also asked the Election Commission to provide more logistical support for the process of verifying claims and objections. The court also said that updated voter lists should be provided in every district of West Bengal.

Krishnadas Rajagopal reports from the Supreme Court.