In a historic legal move, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning to personally argue a petition challenging the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in her state. This marks what could be the first instance of a sitting chief minister appearing to argue a court case, highlighting the political and constitutional significance of the dispute.
Allegations of Partisan Conduct in Electoral Revision
Banerjee, clad in a white saree and black muffler, arrived at the apex court accompanied by her legal team, greeting onlookers with folded hands. She has been leading the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) vigorous campaign against the SIR, alleging that the process is being conducted in a partisan manner to unduly favor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Chief Minister has been in the national capital for three days, intensifying her party's opposition to the electoral revision exercise.
Legal Background and Political Symbolism
Mamata Banerjee holds an LLB degree from Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri College of Law under Calcutta University, which she obtained in 1982. Party leaders note that she last practised as a lawyer in 2003, making her courtroom appearance a notable return to her legal roots. Ahead of the hearing, the TMC released a digital poster depicting Banerjee in a lawyer's gown ascending the stairs of the Supreme Court, captioned "People's advocate vs devil's advocate." In a post on social media platform X, the party stated, "Standing up for the people, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reached the Supreme Court. Today will stand as an example before the entire nation and the world."
Key Arguments and Demands Before the Court
According to TMC sources, Banerjee's arguments in court are expected to focus on several critical points. She is likely to appeal to the court to issue orders directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to utilize the 2025 voter list for the upcoming state polls, rather than the revised rolls from the SIR. Additionally, she may request the court to instruct the ECI to refrain from summoning voters to hearings for minor issues such as spelling errors in their documents. Another key demand is expected to be a directive for the ECI to accept Aadhaar as sufficient proof of identity in cases of discrepancies, streamlining the verification process.
Recent Escalations and Confrontations
The Supreme Court appearance follows a series of confrontations in Delhi. On Monday, Banerjee visited the two Banga Bhawans and faced off with police officials after they barricaded guesthouses where individuals from West Bengal, allegedly affected by the SIR, were staying. Later that day, she led a delegation to meet Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, emerging from the meeting to accuse him of being "arrogant and a liar." On Tuesday, Banerjee held a press conference alongside numerous people from West Bengal who claim to be impacted by the SIR, announcing that the TMC is considering moving an impeachment motion in Parliament against the CEC.
The legal battle over the SIR has thus escalated into a high-stakes political and judicial showdown, with Mamata Banerjee positioning herself as a direct advocate for her constituents against what she perceives as biased electoral practices. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for electoral integrity and federal relations in India.
