The Supreme Court on Friday, February 20, 2026, termed the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal an 'extraordinary situation' and asked the Calcutta High Court to assign current and former judicial officers to assist in completing the exercise.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria passed the order while hearing the matter. The court also directed the Election Commission (EC) to publish the processed list of electoral rolls on February 28. In addition, the top court sought a status report on alleged incidents of violence in the State.
The Chief Justice made it clear that cooperation from the State government was essential. "These officers are meant to perform a quasi-judicial role. SDM/SDO level officers are required to perform the roles of EROs/AEROs. We cannot have office clerks perform this role," the Chief Justice said.
CJI Surya Kant told the petitioners that the poll body could bring in its own officers if required. "We can understand two situations: you do not have sufficient number of officers at this level, which is a statutory requirement, or you cannot spare them. In such cases, the EC can bring their own officers to function as EROs/AEROs," the CJI suggested.
Court expresses disappointment, seeks cooperation from the State
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, presented arguments before the Bench. The Chief Justice expressed concern over the State’s response. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the court was disappointed and expected the State to cooperate.
"Is this is how the State is responding despite our orders of February 9?" the CJI asked.
Advocate Sibal informed the court that the Election Commission had stopped uploading documents on February 15 after the Supreme Court extended the deadline for objections till February 21. In response, the Election Commission said it had written to the State government seeking more officers to assist with the SIR process. According to the poll body, the West Bengal government replied that the request was "under consideration".
During an earlier hearing on February 14, the Supreme Court had extended the time for filing objections in the West Bengal SIR case by one week from February 14. The court had also asked the State government to respond to allegations of violence against Election Commission officials.
Earlier this month, Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally appeared before a Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India and pleaded against the electoral roll cleanup exercise in the State. The matter is now set to continue with the court monitoring the implementation of its directions and seeking updates on both the SIR process and the law-and-order situation.
