In a passionate plea, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee implored the Supreme Court on February 4 to intervene in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asserting that the process unfairly targets West Bengal and its citizens. During the hearing, Banerjee presented her arguments, emphasizing that the electoral roll revision is crucial for preserving democracy and ensuring that genuine voters are not disenfranchised.
The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, acknowledged Banerjee's concerns and issued notices to the Election Commission and the chief electoral officer of West Bengal, seeking a response by February 9. Banerjee highlighted discrepancies in the electoral roll, claiming that many legitimate voters were being unjustly removed or marked as having logical discrepancies.
- Targeting of West Bengal — Banerjee accused authorities of disproportionately focusing on the state.
- Concerns over voter disenfranchisement — She warned that the SIR process could lead to mass disenfranchisement of voters.
- Call for transparency — The Supreme Court was urged to ensure that the revision process is fair and transparent.
Banerjee further argued that the electoral roll process has been plagued by procedural irregularities, which she described as arbitrary and flawed. She noted that many individuals have been incorrectly marked as deceased or have had their names misspelled, issues that could easily be rectified. Her lawyer, senior advocate Shyam Divan, supported her claims by referencing the significant number of unmapped voters affected by the revision.
As the hearing progressed, Banerjee expressed her gratitude to the bench for allowing her to present her case, reiterating her call to action to protect democracy in West Bengal. She warned that the current revision process could undermine the very foundations of democratic participation in the state, urging for immediate remedial action.
