The Supreme Court of India has modified its earlier directions in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, permitting a broader group of judicial officers to handle the massive number of claims and objections pending in the exercise.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, took note of the logistical challenges flagged by the Calcutta High Court. With lakhs of objections still awaiting adjudication and a limited number of district judges available, the Court acknowledged that the existing framework would struggle to meet the timeline for publication of the revised voter list.
To ensure timely completion, the Bench allowed the High Court to assign Civil Judges (Senior and Junior Division) with adequate experience to assist in the scrutiny process. It also granted liberty to seek assistance from judicial officers — including retirees — from neighbouring states if required. The Election Commission of India has been directed to cover the associated administrative and logistical expenses.
In addition, the Court clarified certain aspects regarding the acceptance of identity documents during verification. Emphasising the need to balance efficiency with fairness, it ensured that eligible voters are not excluded due to procedural bottlenecks.
Invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Court permitted the final electoral roll to be published as scheduled, even if supplementary inclusions are made later. Individuals added through such supplementary processes will be treated as part of the final roll, safeguarding their voting rights.
The order reflects the Court’s attempt to streamline the large-scale revision process while maintaining adherence to constitutional principles and electoral timelines.
