The Supreme Court of India is set to hear today a petition filed by Mamata Banerjee challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in West Bengal. Banerjee is likely to be present in court and may argue the matter in person.
The hearing will also consider a batch of connected petitions questioning the Election Commission of India’s SIR process.
The development once again brings into focus a distinctive feature of Bengal’s political history: several of the state’s Chief Ministers have had formal training in law. This background has shaped both their political careers and their approach to governance.
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Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee (1967–1971)
Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee, who led the state during a politically turbulent period in the late 1960s, was also trained in law. He is not explicitly recorded as a practising lawyer. However, like many leaders of his generation, his education included legal studies, even though his primary focus remained the independence movement and political activism rather than the legal profession.
Siddhartha Shankar Ray (1972–1977)
Another prominent legal mind was Siddhartha Shankar Ray, a senior advocate before entering politics. Known for his sharp understanding of constitutional law, Ray later served as Governor of Punjab, reinforcing his reputation as a legally astute administrator.
Jyoti Basu (1977–2000)
Among them was Jyoti Basu, the state's longest-serving Chief Minister. He studied law at University College, London, and was called to the bar at Middle Temple. After returning to India, he practised law at the Calcutta High Court. His legal training later reflected in his long tenure as Chief Minister, especially in matters related to constitutional and administrative governance.
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Mamata Banerjee ( 2011- present)
Mamata Banerjee completed her law degree (LL.B.) from Jogesh Chandra Choudhury College of Law under Calcutta University. Reports indicate that she practised law, with references to her legal work dating up to 2003. In 2026, she appeared in the Supreme Court in legal proceedings, drawing attention to her legal background.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the SIR-related petitions, Banerjee’s possible appearance as a litigant-in-person echoes a long tradition in Bengal, where the lines between law and politics have often overlapped, and legal training has remained a powerful tool in the exercise of political leadership.
