Supreme Court issues notices to EC over Mamata Banerjee's plea on SIR | Highlights

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made arguments before the Supreme Court on Wednesday during a hearing in the case related to the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in the poll-bound state. The CM will appear before the court in this regard.

After the hearing, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission and the chief electoral officers of West Bengal in connection with the SIR matter.

The matter has now been listed for further hearing on February 9, according to Bar and Bench.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi heard the matter on Wednesday.

What's the case?

The Supreme Court will be hearing petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in various states.

Check updates below:

6:30 pm: SP's Shivpal Yadav alleges intimidation of poll staff, deletion of voters during Etawah SIR

Samajwadi Party national general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav has accused the BJP of intimidating poll staff and also deletion of voters during the SIR in Etawah.

5:00 pm: Entire Oppn will take call on impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Congress leader KC Venugopal said the entire Opposition would take a collective decision on moving an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged for the same.

“The Trinamool Congress has already contacted the Congress... I think the entire Opposition will take a call on the matter, which is one of the most relevant issues raised by the Trinamool. We are positively looking at it,” Venugopal said.

3:30 pm: SP leader backs Mamata, says ‘BJP wants to delete Dalit, minority votes’

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Awadhesh Prasad has welcomed the Supreme Court hearing on the SIR of electoral rolls and Mamata Banerjee's appearance before the apex court, alleging that the BJP is attempting to delete voters belonging to marginalised communities in a "planned manner" across the country.

“It is good because it is not just a matter of West Bengal, but of the entire country. In a planned way, the BJP wants to delete the votes of Dalits, the backwards, minorities and the PDA on a wide scale,” Prasad said.

2:25 pm: ‘58 lakh voters deleted, 88 lakh flagged’: Mamata's counsel

Banerjee's counsel informed the court that 58 lakh voters had already been deleted and around 88 lakh voters were flagged, while nearly three lakh objections were still pending, even as the final publication of the rolls was scheduled within 11 days.

1:55 pm: Mamata Banerjee calls EC "WhatsApp Commission"

In the SupremeCourt, Mamata Banerjee called the Election Commission "WhatsApp Commission" and said the ECI was issuing informal orders through WhatsApp, Live Law reported.

1:50 pm: What did TMC claim?

According to the TMC, the Supreme Court told the Election Commission to tell its officers “to be a little sensible”

1:30 pm: ‘Bengal targeted, why not Assam?’

According to Bar and Bench, Mamata Banerjee said the government wants another certificate with Aadhar card. “In other states, domicile caste certificate…nothing is allowed. They only targeted West Bengal on the eve of election. They wanted to do something in two months which takes two years.”

She said, “BLOs committed suicided and they blamed the election officials. It is because of the harassment…West Bengal is targeted, why not Assam !! why not Assam?."

1:18 pm: CM says SIR process is only for deletion

Mamata Banerjee was quoted as saying, “I am giving you the example. I can show you the photos. It is not my photograph... it is by leading newspapers. The SIR process is only for deletion…”

She explained, “Suppose a daughter after marriage goes to in laws house…questions are why is she using her husband's surname etc.. that is what they are doing. There are some daughters who moved to in-laws house. They are unilaterally deleted. Sometimes, poor people purchase flat. Sometimes they shift... but all are deleted. They violated your order and said it is an incorrect mapping.”

1:15 pm: Mamata Banerjee begins argument

Mamata Banerjee said in the court, “ I belong to that state. I am very grateful because of your kindness. When justice is crying behind the door…then we thought we are not getting justice anywhere."

"We wrote six letters to the election commission. I am a bonded labour...I prefer that, I am not fighting for my party,” Bar and Bench quoted her as saying.

1 pm: The Supreme Court has begun hearing in the matter.

10 am: Mamata Banerjee arrives at Supreme Court

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee arrives at Supreme Court as the apex court will hear the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) matter today. The CM will appear before the Court in this regard.

Why is Mamata Banerjee in SC today?

Mamata Banerjee will appear before the Supreme Court in person. Her party, the Trinamool Congress, seeks:

1. Use the 2025 voter List for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections

2. Release 1.4 crore disputed voter names online

3. Accept Aadhaar as enough proof of identity in discrepancy cases

4. Stop “secret mass deletions” of voters via bulk Form-7

5. Withdraw “8100 external micro-observers from Bengal’s electoral process”

What happened earlier in court?

Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to publish the names of voters categorised under the "Logical Discrepancy" list during the SIR of voter rolls in Tamil Nadu.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued the directions while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the SIR process in Tamil Nadu on grounds of procedural irregularities.

The court said that the names must be displayed at gram panchayat bhawans, taluka offices in every subdivision, and ward offices in urban areas.

Those whose names appear on the list may submit documents within 10 days from the date of display, either personally or through authorised representatives.

The list must also mention brief reasons for the discrepancies.

The Supreme Court further directed all district collectors to follow the Election Commission's instructions and deploy adequate personnel to ensure the smooth conduct of the SIR process.