Mamata Banerjee in Supreme Court highlights: Bengal CM likely to appear before SC on Monday for SIR hearing

Mamata Banerjee was seen leaving the Supreme Court premises after the hearing of pleas against SIR in Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee in Supreme Court highlights: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday argued her petition before the Supreme Court of India challenging the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the Election Commission of India was unfairly targeting the state and “bulldozing” its citizens. A trained advocate, Mamata became the first sitting CM to present arguments in person during a Supreme Court hearing. She had moved an interlocutory application in the court seeking permission for the same.

She has long opposed the SIR drive in the state and wants the upcoming Assembly elections in the state to be conducted as per the voters list of 2025.

Appearing through senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Shyam Divan, Banerjee raised concerns over what she described as arbitrary actions, logical discrepancies in the exercise, and instances where living persons were allegedly declared dead.

She also referred to the poll panel as a “WhatsApp commission,” suggesting directions were being issued informally to electoral officials.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant issued notices and sought responses from the ECI and the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal by February 9.

Some key pointers to note:

Mamata Banerjee slams ECI: During her in-person submissions to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee targeted the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging mass voter deletions, appointment of micro observers from BJP-ruled states and an attempt to “bulldoze” the people of Bengal. She also questioned why the SIR exercise didn't take place in Assam, which is a BJP-ruled state.

Inside Bengal CM's plea in SC: In her plea against the SIR revision exercise in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee had sought the quashing of all SIR-related orders issued by the ECI on June 24, 2025, and October 27, 2025, along with all connected directives.

SC bench that heard the pleas: A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi heard a batch of petitions, including those filed by Banerjee, Mostari Banu and TMC MPs Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen.

What SC said in last SIR hearing: The hearing which Mamata Banerjee will attend on Wednesday comes days after the Supreme Court issued directions to the ECI to make the SIR more transparent, accessible, and voter-friendly in West Bengal. “See the strain and stress going on for ordinary people. Over one crore people have been issued notices…we are going to pass some orders,” the bench observed on January 12.

SIR schedule in Bengal: The SIR was rolled out in West Bengal on November 4, 2025 and the draft electoral roll was published on December 16. The last date for submission of claims and objections was January 19. The final electoral roll is expected to be published on February 14, but the deadline may be extended given how the hearings in the Supreme Court go.