The Supreme Court of India on Monday granted the Election Commission of India (ECI) a strict deadline of one week to file its response to interim applications submitted by two Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament. The MPs have raised serious allegations of "arbitrariness and procedural lapses" in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, a state governed by the TMC.
Court Rejects ECI's Request for More Time
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and including Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter. The ECI had sought a two-week period to prepare its reply, but the bench rejected this request. The court directed the poll body to submit a common response to the pleas filed by Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen within just seven days. The bench has scheduled the next hearing for January 19.
Allegations of Informal Directives and Voter Deletions
In his application, Derek O'Brien, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, brought a critical issue to the court's attention. He contended that the ECI is issuing instructions for the SIR through "extra-statutory" means like WhatsApp messages and oral directions during video conferences, bypassing formal written orders. Sibal argued that this practice forces Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to act without proper legal authorisation.
The plea highlighted a major concern regarding a new voter category termed "logical discrepancies." Under this category, electors can be issued notices for quasi-judicial hearings over alleged errors in their voter details, a process the TMP MP claims lacks statutory backing. O'Brien's application provided startling figures, stating that the draft electoral roll published on December 16, 2025, resulted in the deletion of 58,20,898 names without prior notice or a personal hearing. Furthermore, it claimed nearly 31,68,424 voters could not be matched with the 2002 electoral roll, and notices were proposed for about 1.36 crore electors under the 'logical discrepancies' category.
Relief Sought and Broader Concerns
The Rajya Sabha MP has petitioned the Supreme Court for several key directives. These include:
- Extending the January 15 deadline for filing claims and objections regarding the electoral roll.
- Restraining the ECI from issuing instructions through informal channels like WhatsApp.
- Declaring such informal instructions illegal.
The plea also flagged several operational issues causing public inconvenience, such as long queues at revision centres, unclear documentation requirements, restrictions on party booth-level agents, and significant hardship for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and medically unwell voters.
A separate but similar plea filed by TMC MP Dola Sen also challenges the SIR process, labelling it arbitrary and unconstitutional, and warning of the wrongful deletion of genuine voters from the lists.
The timing of this legal battle is crucial, as the West Bengal assembly elections are expected to be held in April–May 2026. The ruling Trinamool Congress, in power since 2011 under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, will be seeking a fourth consecutive term in office. The Supreme Court's intervention and the ECI's response are now being closely watched, as they could have significant implications for the integrity of the voter list ahead of the high-stakes polls.
