In a high-stakes hearing lasting over 90 minutes, the Supreme Court of India on Monday issued a clear warning to states regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria emphasized that the court will not tolerate any “impediment” in the SIR process and is ready to pass “extreme orders” if necessary to ensure the sanctity of the electoral exercise.

The apex court acknowledged the concerns raised by the West Bengal government but maintained that the democratic process must remain unhindered. To balance transparency and accuracy, the court has granted a one-week extension for the scrutiny of documents, meaning the final electoral roll will not be published on the earlier scheduled date of February 14.

Key Directives from the Supreme Court:

• Immediate Reporting: The 8,505 Group B officers provided by the State government must report to District Electoral Offices (DEOs) and EROs by 5 PM on Tuesday.
• Authority of EROs: The court clarified that final decisions on claims and objections lie solely with Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). Micro-observers are mandated only to assist in the process.
• Document Verification: EROs must accept all listed documents and conduct a thorough verification to ensure no genuine voter is left out.

The ruling comes after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally appeared before the bench to voice her concerns over alleged mass deletions of voters. While the extension provides temporary relief, the Supreme Court’s firm stance against any obstruction highlights the intense judicial oversight governing the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.