By Admin 
During the hearing on the petitions filed regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bengal, there was a heated argument between the lawyers of the Election Commission and the Bengal government. On Monday (February 9, 2026), the Bengal government said that it will provide 8505 officers to the Election Commission for appointing micro observers. The Election Commission raised questions about the rank of officers and talked about administrative problems.
The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice NV Anjaria was hearing the case. During the hearing, former Chief Secretary of West Bengal and currently advisor to CM Manoj Pant was also present in the court. On the objection of the Election Commission, he said that all the 294 District Electoral Officers already working are Class A officers. In the new list we have given, everyone’s rank is below ERO.
Senior advocate D Sheshadri Naidu, appearing for the Election Commission, said that the state government should be asked to give details as to where and what work these 8505 officers are doing at present? The Election Commission said that let the state government provide officers. We will take a decision regarding his role. There are micro observer trends already working. Have been involved in the process going on till now. Now verifying the documents and giving advice to ERO.
The Election Commission said that there will be a need to give training to new officers. We have to complete the SIR work within the stipulated time. On this CJI Surya Kant said, ‘But these officers understand the local circumstances. Will be able to understand things like mismatch in names better. The Election Commission said that sometimes a trained clerk is better than an untrained professor. We will look at these officers, those who are eligible will be trained soon and will be hired.
The Election Commission also said that currently they have 6500 trained officers working with them. It would be good if some officers are increased, but first the Election Commission will have to see which officers from the government’s list will be able to do this work. He urged the court to give 48 hours time to the Election Commission and then the hearing should be held again.
Bengal government’s lawyer Shyam Diwan asked the court to order the Election Commission not to remove any name from the list. On this, CJI Surya Kant said that we will not give any such order now. Then Advocate Shyam Diwan said that the final list is to come on 14th February, on which the CJI said that we will take the decision according to the situation.