West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will appear in person before the Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 4, 2026) in a high-stakes hearing challenging the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted in the state. The matter will be heard by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
Ms. Banerjee, who is currently in the national capital, has emerged as one of the strongest critics of the SIR exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In a significant move, the Chief Minister has also filed a petition in her personal capacity, apart from the state government’s plea, questioning the constitutional validity and fairness of the revision
The petitions challenge the SIR on the grounds that it has resulted in large-scale and allegedly arbitrary deletions of voters from the electoral rolls. According to the West Bengal government, the draft electoral roll for the first phase of the SIR, released on December 16, 2025, saw the deletion of more than 58 lakh electors across the state.
Several discrepancies have been flagged in the revised rolls, including an unusually high number of young voters marked as deceased, a disproportionate impact on women voters, and allegations that certain communities were affected more than others. The state government has argued that these anomalies raise serious concerns about voter disenfranchisement and the integrity of the electoral process.
Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of acting in a manner that undermines democracy and federal principles. She has maintained that the SIR exercise, carried out without adequate consultation and transparency, could influence upcoming elections in the state.
The Election Commission, on the other hand, has defended the SIR as a routine exercise aimed at ensuring accurate and updated electoral rolls, asserting that due process was followed and opportunities were provided for objections and corrections.
The Supreme Court’s hearing is being closely watched, as it could have far-reaching implications for electoral roll revisions, the powers of the Election Commission, and the protection of voters’ rights across the country. Further directions from the apex court are expected after hearing arguments from all parties
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