‘Won’t allow any impediment in SIR’: SC hears ECI reply to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s plea

New Delhi: Amid concerns raised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over a possible “mass exclusion” of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Supreme Court on Monday asserted that the process cannot be obstructed.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria, said it would issue any necessary directions or clarifications to ensure the smooth conduct of the revision exercise.

“We will not allow anyone to create any impediment in the SIR exercise. It must be clear to the states,” the CJI said while hearing a batch of petitions, including the one filed by Banerjee, challenging aspects of the ongoing SIR in West Bengal.

The bench took note of an affidavit filed by the Election Commission alleging that its notices were burnt by miscreants, and directed the West Bengal Director General of Police to submit an affidavit on the issue. The poll panel informed the court that no FIR has been registered so far.

“A message must go that the Constitution of India applies to all states,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the court.

The Supreme Court also acknowledged the West Bengal government’s submission of a list of 8,505 Group B officers to assist the poll panel and said they could be trained and deployed for the SIR process. It clarified that final decisions on electoral roll revisions would rest solely with electoral roll officers, while the Election Commission would decide how the officers are utilised.

During the hearing, senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing Banerjee, reiterated apprehensions over the appointment of micro-observers and the risk of large-scale deletion of eligible voters.

“We don't want any mass exclusion,” Divan told the bench.

PTI