SC Hears EC Reply to Mamata Plea on 1.4 Crore Disputed Voters in Bengal

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday the Election Commission’s response to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s petition challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. The hearing follows a dramatic appearance by the chief minister last week, when she personally addressed the court and urged it to intervene to “save democracy”.

During her earlier submission, Mamata Banerjee levelled serious allegations against the Election Commission, claiming that over 1.36 crore voters had been placed on a “logical discrepancy list” and were at risk of deletion due to errors such as misspellings, address changes after marriage, or clerical mismatches. She also questioned the deployment of around 8,300 micro-observers in the state, alleging they were acting without constitutional authority.

The West Bengal government has urged the top court to direct that the next Assembly elections be conducted on the basis of the 2025 voter list, rather than a revised roll prepared after the SIR exercise. According to the state, lakhs of genuine voters could otherwise be excluded. Mamata Banerjee has also sought directions for the Election Commission to publish the names of disputed voters online in a searchable format and to accept Aadhaar cards as sufficient proof of identity in discrepancy cases.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee Set to Appear Personally in Supreme Court Today Over Bengal Voter Roll Row

The Supreme Court had earlier issued notice on the chief minister’s plea and sought a detailed reply from the Election Commission, which is expected to be examined today. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had also requested Mamata Banerjee to allow her counsel to argue the case, even as the matter drew national attention due to its political and constitutional implications.

Alongside Banerjee’s petition, the court is also set to hear a separate public interest litigation seeking protection for Election Commission officials involved in the SIR process. The plea alleges that officials have faced intimidation and violence while discharging their duties. The Solicitor General has requested that both matters be heard together, noting that the Centre is also a party to the case.

In multiple affidavits, the Election Commission has claimed its officials in West Bengal have faced threats, vandalism, and physical attacks at hearing venues, prompting requests to shift proceedings to safer locations. As the Supreme Court weighs the competing claims, it is expected to closely examine both the concerns over potential voter disenfranchisement and the safety of election officials, setting the stage for a closely watched hearing.

Also Read: Mamata Accuses ECI, BJP: Over 110 Dead, Daily Suicides from SIR Anxiety in Bengal