3 months ago
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The West Bengal authorities has informed the Election Commission that it is acceptable to marque disposable 8,505 Group B officers of the authorities oregon its instrumentalities for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls successful the State, sources said.
This assumes value arsenic the counsel appearing for the canvass sheet had argued successful the Supreme Court connected February 4, 2026, that the West Bengal authorities provided the services of lone 80 Grade 2 officers for overseeing the SIR exercise.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria is slated to perceive connected Monday (February 9, 2026) a batch of pleas, including the 1 filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, relating to the ongoing SIR process successful the State.
Sources said that Ms. Banerjee, who connected February 4 became the archetypal serving main curate to reason successful the apical court, whitethorn travel to the apex tribunal connected Monday (February 9, 2026) again.
They said the West Bengal authorities has informed the canvass sheet that it is acceptable and consenting to marque disposable 8,505 Group B officers of the State oregon its instrumentalities for the SIR workout there.
On February 4, elder advocator Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the canvass panel, told the apex tribunal that the authorities had provided the services of lone 80 Grade 2 officers, specified arsenic SDMs, for overseeing the SIR process.
Mr. Dwivedi besides said that lone low-ranked authorities employees, specified arsenic Anganwadi workers, were provided by the West Bengal authorities for the exercise.
Ms. Banerjee had countered the ECI's charges and said the authorities had provided immoderate was sought by the canvass panel.
The main curate had vehemently urged the apical tribunal to intervene successful the SIR process successful West Bengal to "save democracy", alleging that the State was being targeted and its radical were being bulldozed.
The apical tribunal took enactment of Banerjee's petition against the SIR workout and said that genuine persons indispensable stay connected the electoral rolls.
It issued notices and sought replies to the petition by February 9 from the Election Commission and the main electoral serviceman of West Bengal.
The Bench besides asked the canvass sheet to instruct booth-level officers and electoral rotation officers to beryllium much delicate portion issuing notices connected grounds of insignificant discrepancies, specified arsenic mismatched spelling of names, etc.
On January 19, the apical tribunal passed a slew of directions, observing that the SIR process successful West Bengal should beryllium transparent and not origin immoderate inconvenience.
