Supreme Court SIR Hearing Highlights: SIR happened smoothly everywhere except West Bengal: CJI
During the last hearing, the top Court asked CJ of Calcutta High Court to request former CJs and judges of the high court to hear the appeal of those persons whose claim for inclusion was rejected by the Judicial officers.
by Ashish Shaji, Vineet Upadhyay · The Indian Express · JoinWest Bengal SIR Hearing Highlights Updates: While hearing petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the Supreme Court on Tuesday observed, citing a news article, that the SIR exercise had happened smoothly everywhere, except in West Bengal.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked that, “Two days back I was travelling, there is an article on SIR,…….other than West Bengal everywhere it has happened smoothly.”
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To this senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee responded that other than West Bengal, logical discrepancy have not been applied to any other state.
At the outset senior advocate Shyam Divan appearing for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee suggested freezing of electoral rolls seven days prior to the polling date so that no eligible elector is left out. Divan also suggested requesting the High Court to ensure that the tribunals directed to be constituted by the top court function with immediate effect so that the electors found ineligible may exercise the right to appeal and the tribunal may have time to dispose of the appeal before polling.
He had also prayed for directions to add the electors found eligible by the tribunals to be added to the supplementary voter list. Divan further sought directions to expedite the disposal of appeals of all candidates of all political parties who are under adjudication.
Responding to this, the CJI said that most of these issues involve administrative exercise and can be taken up with the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
The court also highlighted the workload on judicial officers tasked with adjudicating the claims and objections to the electoral rolls.
“More than two lakh objections are being decided by judicial officers. They have not taken a single leave,” the court said. After hearing the matter briefly, the court posted the case for further hearing on April 1.
Previous hearing: During the last hearing on March 11, the Supreme Court asked the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court to request few former CJs and two-three judges of the high court, preferably Calcutta or neighbouring states, to hear the appeal of those persons whose claim for inclusion has been rejected by the Judicial officers. The top court directed the ECI to issue a notification in consultation with CJ of Calcutta HC notifying the former CJ/judges as the appellate tribunal.
“The CJ of Calcutta may request some former CJ and two-three judges of the high court, preferably Calcutta or neighbouring states who shall be notified as the appellate tribunal. The ECI shall issue a notification in consultation with CJ of Calcutta HC notifying the former CJ/judges as the appellate tribunal,” CJI had said.
Earlier the top court had allowed the deployment of judicial officers from Odisha and Jharkhand for completing the adjudication of claims and objections of persons included in the “logical discrepancy/unmapped category”.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi had said that the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court can depute civil judges, if needed.
Live Updates
Mar 24, 2026 03:56 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing ends
The bench lists the case on April 1, 10.30am.
Mar 24, 2026 03:55 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing updates
CJI: We will have to wind up early on that day (April 1).
Mar 24, 2026 03:54 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing updates
Divan: When will your lordship will list the case
CJI: We will list tentatively on 1st.
Mar 24, 2026 03:53 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing
Justice Bagchi: do you realise. We have put so much pressure on the judicial officers to complete 16 lakh cases within 45 days.
Banerjee: it's inhuman that is why we said it will take 2-3 years.
Mar 24, 2026 03:45 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: CJI interjects
CJI: I read an article. Other than West Bengal, SIR process happened smoothly everywhere.
Mar 24, 2026 03:41 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Kalyan Banerjee
CJI: 5-6 Political parties can go to the adjudicating officer and request for the same.
Sr Adv Kalyan Banerjee: Though supplementary list was published at 12 am. The complete list is not out yet.
Justice Bagchi: these are logistical issues.
Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee: Entire supplementary list is not published. A soft copy can be given to political parties. That also can be considered.
Bench: Please approach CJ of high court.
Mar 24, 2026 03:37 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: CJI interjects
CJI: Most of these are administrative issues which can be taken up by the Chief justice of the high court.
Mar 24, 2026 03:36 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Divan's submissions
Sr advocate Divan: Court may consider directing all subsequent supplementary lists to be published on a daily basis
Mar 24, 2026 03:34 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Divan's submissions
Sr advocate Divan: It will be extremely difficult for judicial officers to complete adjudication. This court may consider freezing of electoral rolls seven days prior to the polling date
Mar 24, 2026 03:33 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing Starts
Sr advocate Divan: Everyone wants process to complete swiftly. I have a few suggestions. Total number of cases under adjudication as on March 23 was 60 lakhs. On 23 March the first supplementary cases was published with 27 lakh cases disposed of by judicial officers
Mar 24, 2026 03:24 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing Starts
Sr advocate Shyam Divan refers to court's previous order
Mar 24, 2026 03:22 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing Starts
Hearing commences
Mar 24, 2026 02:46 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing
Bench assembles. Matter to come up shortly.
Mar 24, 2026 02:41 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Counsels
Counsels-
Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy will be appearing for the State of West Bengal.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan will be appearing for CM Mamata Banerjee.
Senior advocate DS Naidu will be appearing for Election Commission of India.
Mar 24, 2026 02:36 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing
The bench is yet to assemble after the break
Mar 24, 2026 02:18 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Appellate tribunal
On March 11, the Supreme Court asked the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court to request few former CJs and two-three judges of the high court, preferably Calcutta or neighbouring states, to hear the appeal of those persons whose claim for inclusion has been rejected by the Judicial officers.
Mar 24, 2026 02:08 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Supplementary voters’ list
The Election Commission published the first supplementary voters’ list after SIR adjudications in poll-bound West Bengal.
Mar 24, 2026 02:05 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: 29 lakh cases
According to the EC, so far 29 lakh cases have been adjudicated by judicial officers, deputed by the Supreme Court, out of over 60 lakh pending cases.
Mar 24, 2026 02:01 PM IST
West Bengal SIR Hearing Live Updates: Hearing at 2:30
The Supreme Court is likely to hear the matter at around 2:30 pm.
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