Election Commission Postpones West Bengal's Final Voters' List to February 28
The Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday a significant extension to the publication schedule of West Bengal's final electoral roll, pushing the deadline back to February 28. This decision effectively extends the state's Summary Revision (SIR) timetable by 14 days, marking the second such postponement in recent months.
Supreme Court Order Prompts Revision
The Commission's adjustment comes in direct compliance with a Supreme Court order issued on February 9. In its directive, the apex court recognized that the scrutiny process for documents submitted by affected individuals would require more time than initially anticipated. The Court specifically mandated that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) be granted at least one additional week beyond February 14 to complete their evaluations and make appropriate decisions.
The revised timeline now sets February 14 as the final date for conducting hearings, while February 21 becomes the cutoff for scrutinizing uploaded documents and disposing of related cases. This information was formally communicated to West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, through an official written correspondence from the Election Commission.
Senior EC Officials to Review Preparations
Within 24 hours of this announcement, two Senior Deputy Election Commissioners—Gyanesh Bharti and Maneesh Garg—are scheduled to visit West Bengal on March 1. Their primary objective will be to conduct a comprehensive review of the state's election preparedness ahead of the upcoming electoral processes. Sources within the Election Commission confirmed this planned visit, highlighting the importance of ensuring all procedural aspects are thoroughly addressed.
Background of Previous Extensions
This represents the second instance where West Bengal's SIR roster has been extended. Previously, on November 30, the Election Commission had already pushed back the schedule by one week, moving the final publication of electoral rolls from February 7 to February 14. That initial delay was attributed to slower-than-expected collection of enumeration forms and subsequent uploading of data onto the Booth Level Officer (BLO) application.
Following the Supreme Court's latest order, CEO Manoj Agarwal indicated that the final electoral roll publication before February 28 now appears unlikely, aligning with the Commission's newly announced timeline.
Detailed Supreme Court Directives
The Supreme Court's order contained several crucial provisions affecting the revision process. It explicitly stated that affected persons who have received notices are entitled to rely on any documents referenced by the Election Commission in SIR notices. Furthermore, all such documents—including those mentioned in the Court's January 19 order—must be duly considered by EROs when making determinations on objections received in response to served notices.
The Court emphasized that EROs remain duty-bound to consider all objections received from individuals according to statutory requirements, regardless of whether those persons appear for personal hearings. Additionally, the genuineness of documents issued by competent authorities and filed alongside objections can be scrutinized and verified using the same protocols applied to documents submitted by affected persons themselves.
Election Commission's Strict Compliance Directive
On Tuesday, the Election Commission issued clear instructions to District Election Officers (DEOs) and District Magistrates (DMs), directing them to dispose of enumeration forms in strict conformity with the Supreme Court's order. The Commission warned that any deviations from the established timelines and directives would be viewed very seriously, with adverse inferences potentially drawn against responsible EROs and AEROs.
The Commission's communication stressed that EROs and AEROs must strictly adhere to all Supreme Court timelines while disposing of notices, claims, and objections pertaining to SIR 2026. This firm stance underscores the Election Commission's commitment to maintaining procedural integrity and transparency throughout the electoral revision process in West Bengal.
