SC Flags Bengal SIR Risks Before Polls

The Supreme Court on Monday grilled the Election Commission over West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), questioning outcomes if victory margins shrink to 2% with 15% voters sidelined ahead of the state Assembly elections. Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard arguments in New Delhi, highlighting voters trapped between authorities as EC defended the process.

The bench posed stark hypotheticals during the hearing. What if a candidate wins by just 2% but 15% of electors fail to vote due to deletions, they asked. Sources indicated the Court stressed election integrity, urging clarity on SIR's potential fallout in tight races.

Justice Bagchi remarked sharply that this isn't a state versus EC fight. Voters stand squeezed between constitutional bodies, he observed, after EC noted tribunals rejected 47% of challenged notices. Courts intervene to enable polls, not halt them, the judge clarified.

EC published Bengal's SIR list on April 9, axing 90.83 lakh names from 7.66 crore voters recorded in October 2025. Now, 6.76 crore remain—an 11.85% cut overall. Scrutiny covered 60.06 lakh names, with 27.16 lakh struck off, according to officials.

Deletions peaked near the Bangladesh border. North 24 Parganas shed 3.25 lakh from 5.91 lakh under review, while South 24 Parganas lost 2.39 lakh out of 8.28 lakh. Officials cite rigorous verification drives for the scale.

TMC leaders confronted EC on April 8. MP Derek O'Brien led the delegation to Delhi, later alleging rude dismissal in just five minutes over SIR concerns. EC sources countered that O'Brien interrupted the Chief Election Commissioner and issued threats, escalating tensions.

SIR's second phase swept 12 states and UTs, purging 6.08 crore names from an initial 51 crore, leaving 44.92 crore on rolls. Uttar Pradesh alone saw 2.04 crore cuts, a 13% drop to 13.39 crore, with Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and others following.

These deletions spark fears of widespread disenfranchisement, especially in border districts facing maximum disruption. Critics question the timing before polls, while EC insists clean rolls enhance credibility. Public interest stories like this dominate latest news today across India news updates.

The Court hearing continues as EC weighs safeguards against low-turnout victories. Final voter lists remain frozen, and Bengal Assembly polls push ahead amid national and international news scrutiny from English news portals in India.