New Delhi is bracing for a pivotal Supreme Court hearing today as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenges the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud alongside Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, will delve into the merits of her petition filed last week.
Mamata’s legal salvo accuses the Election Commission of India (ECI) of blatant political bias, alleging the SIR process is designed to disenfranchise millions from marginalized communities ahead of crucial state elections. She has sought urgent interim relief to halt the deletion of any voter names, particularly those flagged under the dubious ‘logical discrepancy’ category.
The controversy erupted over spelling variations in voter records, often stemming from local dialects, name changes post-marriage, or address shifts. Banerjee argues this disproportionately impacts women and migrants, branding it a targeted assault on Bengal’s electorate unlike similar exercises skipped in northeastern states like Assam despite her repeated pleas.
In a prior session, the apex court issued notices to the ECI and voiced concerns, emphasizing that linguistic quirks cannot justify purging genuine voters. ‘We will find a pragmatic solution to protect real voters’ rights,’ the bench assured, listing the matter for detailed arguments today.
This face-off underscores deepening tensions between the Trinamool Congress and the poll panel, with allied pleas from TMC MPs Dola Sen and Derek O’Brien amplifying the stakes. As Bengal eyes assembly polls, the verdict could reshape voter lists and political fortunes.
Observers note the SIR’s aggressive timeline risks excluding legitimate voters, echoing past criticisms of ECI’s neutrality. Mamata’s camp insists on transparency, demanding data on proposed deletions. The court’s intervention might set precedents for electoral integrity nationwide.