Supreme Court’s ‘Extraordinary’ Order in Bengal SIR Case: No Option Left Amid Trust Deficit

The Supreme Court issued an "extraordinary order" on February 20, 2026, deploying judicial officers for West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls due to a severe trust deficit between the state government and Election Commission of India (ECI). This "Bengal SIR case" intervention addresses claims and objections on voter lists, flagging "logical discrepancies" in nearly 1.25 crore notices.​

Bengal SIR Case Background

West Bengal SIR exercise targets voter list accuracy ahead of polls, but disputes over officer deputation led to a deadlock. The top court, led by CJI Surya Kant, cited "extraordinary circumstances" and a blame game, leaving "no option left" but judicial oversight. Calcutta High Court Chief Justice will appoint district-level serving and retired judges as Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) for adjudication.

Top Court’s Extraordinary Order Details

Judicial officers will handle pending SIR claims, prioritizing inclusions/exclusions with document doubts, amid ECI reports of violence and interference. The bench acknowledged potential court backlogs but directed temporary case shifts for 7-10 days. This "Supreme Court Bengal SIR directive" ensures timely resolution before deadlines.

Trust Deficit in WB SIR Controversy

The "trust deficit between Bengal govt and ECI" forced SC's "extraordinary step" as state-ECI couldn't agree on official ranks for SIR duties. Earlier hearings flagged procedural flaws, like bulk notices from algorithms, and ordered DGP intervention for law and order. "No option left" reflects the impasse in this high-stakes "West Bengal voter list revision" row.​

 FAQs on Bengal SIR Case

1. What is the Supreme Court’s extraordinary order in Bengal SIR case?
The top court directed Calcutta HC to appoint judicial officers as EROs for SIR claims/objections due to state-ECI deadlock.

2. Why did SC say ‘no option left’ in WB SIR controversy?
Extraordinary circumstances and trust deficit left no alternative to judicial intervention for voter list adjudication.

3. What triggered the trust deficit in West Bengal SIR exercise?
Disputes over officer deputation ranks, violence allegations, and flawed notice processes created an impasse.

4. How will judicial officers handle Bengal voter list revision?
They'll resolve logical discrepancies in claims, with provisions for document review and temporary court adjustments.

5. What’s the timeline impact of top court’s SIR directive?
Orders aim for swift completion despite deadlines, prioritizing SIR over routine hearings short-term.