The Supreme Court on Monday (February 9, 2026) heard the petition of the Bengal government regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. The court reprimanded the state government and asked why there was a delay in giving the list of officers to the Election Commission for appointing micro observers. The court said that if the list had been given the very next day of the last hearing, it could have taken a timely decision on it. The court has asked the state government to give the list of 8,505 Class 2 officers that it wants to make available to the Election Commission.
In the last hearing held on February 4, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself appeared in the court and raised questions regarding the process of SIR. During this time, Mamata had also opposed the appointment of micro observers from other states. Then the Election Commission had said that the state government did not provide officers, hence, officers had to be called from outside, on which the Supreme Court had directed the state government to provide Class 2 officers.
Bengal government will give 8505 officers to the Election Commission
In the hearing on Monday, Bengal government’s lawyer Shyam Diwan told the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant that the West Bengal government is ready to provide 8,505 officers to the Election Commission for the work of micro observers.
CJI reprimanded Bengal government
CJI said on this that it would be good. The officials there can understand the local conditions better. You should soon give the list of officers to the Election Commission. However, the Election Commission said that till now neither the list of officers has been received nor the officers have been made available. On this, the CJI reprimanded the Bengal government and said that the last hearing was held on 4th February. If you had given the list on 5th February, the Commission would have taken a decision by now.
During the hearing, the list of officials from the state was given to the Election Commission. The CJI said that he wants the apprehensions expressed by the parties to be resolved, for which he gave some special instructions-
- The state government should ensure that all these 8505 officers report to their respective District Electoral Officer (ERO).
- The Election Commission should give them work as per their convenience.
- The Election Commission should take a decision on making him a micro observer after looking at his bio data and work experience.
- These people should be given brief training.
- ERO will take the final decision regarding their appointment.
- ERO needs to be given one more week to verify the voters’ documents.
