Chief Justice Surya Kant has expressed happiness over the bumper voting in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections. CJI Surya Kant has said that he was happy to see more than 92 percent voting in the state. He made this comment when the Supreme Court was hearing the petition of 71 people who have appealed to vote in the Bengal elections. These people have been removed from the voter list after the SIR and now their case is pending with the Appellate Tribunal.

The bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Panchauli was told that more than 92 percent voting took place in the first phase of the Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday (April 23, 2026). On this, CJI Surya Kant said, ‘As a citizen of India, I am happy to see people voting enthusiastically. This is necessary for the strength of democracy.

The Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court has constituted 19 tribunals to decide on appeals against removal of names from the voter list. These 19 appellate tribunals have been formed under the chairmanship of former Chief Justices and judges of the High Court. This tribunal is hearing the appeals of those who have been left out of the voter list.

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During the hearing, the Supreme Court also talked about the reduction in violent incidents during the elections. Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that there were very few incidents of violence. On this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the security forces were successful in instilling confidence among the people, due to which the voting increased.

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Senior advocate representing TMC and voters argued regarding the bumper voting that people were afraid that their names would be removed from the voter list, hence, migrant laborers came in large numbers to vote. On this argument of Kalyani Banerjee, SG Tushar Mehta told her, ‘Banerjee sir, do not do politics today.’

(With inputs from Nipun Sehgal)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) has directed to appoint civil judges in Bengal SIR and said that if there is still a shortage of judicial officers, then a request should be made to provide them to the neighboring states. The Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court has informed the Supreme Court that there are not enough judicial officers available in view of the outstanding work of the SIR and the short time left for it.

In the last hearing, in view of the differences between the Bengal government and the Election Commission regarding the appointment of officers for the SIR, the Supreme Court had directed the Calcutta High Court to appoint judicial officers. Regarding this, on Monday the Calcutta High Court said that according to the time limit of SIR, not enough officers are available.

The final list of the Special Intensive Inspection (SIR) of the voter list going on in Bengal is to be released on February 28. The state government was asked to provide Class 2 officers to the Election Commission to investigate the objections and claims of the voters in the voter list, on which differences were seen between the two sides and the court asked the judicial officers to get this work done.

The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Panchaul said that 50 lakh claims have to be investigated. Even if 250 District Judges and Additional District Judges are appointed for this and each officer disposes of 250 cases in a day, it will still take 80 days to complete the work. CJI Surya Kant said that in view of the situation, we are also adding this instruction in the previous order-

• The Chief Justice of the High Court should also use civil judges with more than three years of experience.
• If he feels that there is still a shortage of judicial officers, then he should also request the Chief Justice of the neighboring states of Jharkhand and Odisha to provide judicial officers.
• The Election Commission will bear the expenses of travel and stay of these officials.
• The date of publication of the final list is 28th February. The Election Commission may release a supplementary list even after that.
• People who find place in the supplementary list will also be considered included in the final list.

The Supreme Court is hearing petitions in which questions have been raised regarding the validity of the SIR process. The Bengal government had opposed the appointment of micro observers from other states. At the same time, the Election Commission claimed that the state government did not provide officers, due to which officers were called from other states.

In the hearing on February 9, the court had directed the Bengal government to provide Class 2 officers, but on February 20, the Election Commission said that till now they have not been provided officers. At the same time, the Bengal government says that the Election Commission has now appointed another new type of officers. They are being called Special Role Officers, this special officer is even higher than the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). In view of this dispute between the two parties, the Supreme Court had directed to get the work of SIR done by judicial officers.

(With inputs from Nipun Sehgal)

In view of the lack of trust between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission, the Supreme Court has directed to appoint a judicial officer for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The court asked the Calcutta High Court to appoint judicial officers to decide on the claims and objections in the SIR. The court has said that these officers should be spotless and should be of the rank of District Judge and Additional District Judge.

On Friday (February 20, 2026), the Bengal government and the Election Commission were seen accusing each other in front of the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. Bengal government’s lawyer Shyam Diwan said that the Election Commission has now appointed another new type of officers. They are being called Special Role Officers, this special officer is even higher than the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).

On this argument of Shyam Diwan, CJI Surya Kant said, ‘It seems that we will have to appoint judicial officers or IAS from other cadre. The Chief Justice of the High Court will have to be asked to appoint judicial officers with good records.

Senior advocate DM Naidu, appearing for the Election Commission, told the court that West Bengal has not provided qualified officers to the Commission. On this the CJI expressed disappointment and said that we were expecting a cooperative attitude from the state government. In the hearing on February 9, the court had directed the Bengal government to provide Class 2 officers. Even then the court had reprimanded the state government as to why officers were not made available despite giving orders in the last hearing.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said during this time that the court had ordered that the date of scrutiny of documents is being extended from February 14 to February 21, but the Election Commission has stopped uploading the documents from February 15. The CJI told him that he would seek information from the Election Commission on his order of that day and its implementation. The court asked the status of the SIR, on which Kapil Sibal said that there are still 48 hours in it and he is raising some issues.

(With inputs from Nipun Sehgal)

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.