Mamata Banerjee Challenges SIR Process In Supreme Court, Cites Irregularities

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally appeared before the Supreme Court to present arguments against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the state. Challenging the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Chief Minister alleged significant irregularities in the voter list revision. A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant heard the petition and subsequently issued a formal notice to the Election Commission, scheduling the next hearing for Monday.

Allegations of Procedural Irregularities

During the proceedings, Chief Minister Banerjee contended that the SIR process is being predominantly utilized for the deletion of names rather than legitimate revision. She expressed concerns that the Election Commission has failed to provide adequate responses to the state's grievances. The Chief Minister emphasized that she approached the apex court because she felt that justice was being compromised at the administrative level.

Concerns Over Deletion of Women Voters

A primary point of contention raised by the Chief Minister involved the removal of women voters from the rolls. She alleged that many women had their names struck off simply because they changed their surnames after marriage. According to her arguments, officials are questioning why these women are using their husbands' surnames, leading to large-scale deletions, while On top of that, she highlighted that migrant workers who shifted locations for livelihood are also facing arbitrary removals.

Claims of Discriminatory Requirements

Banerjee argued that West Bengal is being unfairly singled out with additional documentation requirements. She stated that while other states like Assam don't face such conditions, voters in Bengal are being asked for extra certificates in addition to Aadhaar cards. She termed this a violation of previous judicial orders and questioned the disparity in treatment between West Bengal and other Indian states.

Judicial Observations and Next Steps

The Supreme Court bench noted that it had already extended the deadline for the voter list revision by 10 days and indicated that further extensions might not be feasible. While the court acknowledged the presence of senior advocates like Kapil Sibal and Shyam Divan for the state, it allowed the Chief Minister to voice her concerns directly. According to legal analysts, the court's decision to issue a notice to the ECI suggests a rigorous examination of the procedural integrity of the SIR.

The court assured that it would strive to ensure no genuine voter is excluded from the electoral rolls. The matter is now set for a detailed hearing on Monday, where the Election Commission is expected to submit its response to the allegations of discrimination and procedural lapses.