Kolkata’s election machinery has rolled out ironclad directives to maintain order during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the 2026 voter list. Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal has instructed all District Magistrates and District Election Officers to file FIRs without delay if any disruptions occur at verification sites or government offices.
This move stems from a Supreme Court order dated January 19, 2026, in response to petitions highlighting irregularities in West Bengal’s SIR process. The court emphasized transparency, fairness, and natural justice, mandating public display of flagged names, easy document submission, and representation at hearings. Earlier, notices were sent to about 1.36 crore voters over logical discrepancies, sparking widespread complaints.
Agarwal’s guidelines are crystal clear: any breach of law and order, damage to public property, or threats to officials must trigger immediate police complaints. Copies of FIRs go straight to the local Superintendent of Police and the CEO’s office. Persistent violence could halt proceedings indefinitely, restartable only with CEO approval. Delays in filing FIRs will invite strict action against errant officers.
With assembly elections looming in April-May 2026, these steps aim to streamline the voter list cleanup, addressing longstanding anomalies. While the Election Commission views it as a constitutional duty, opposition voices like Trinamool Congress have cried foul, alleging political motives. The directive underscores a zero-tolerance stance to safeguard democracy’s foundational process in the state.