West Bengal SIR : Live Updates From Supreme Court Hearing

Update: 2026-02-20 08:57 GMT
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Live Updates - Page 2
2026-02-20 09:03 GMT

Sr Adv Menaka Guruswamy: Every state has different framework. We only have 69 SDOs. To become SDO in WB...

CJI: These officers are required to perform sort of quasi judicial function...partially judicially trained mind required...you can't ask a clerk...they are obligated under law to pass speaking order, to reject of accept document it's all judicial exercise. It's not that WB must follow Rajasthan pattern. Issue is if you do not have sufficient Group A officers...you can simply tell them, bring your own officers.

J Bagchi to ECI: Problem is - your officers have little knowledge of Bengali

CJI: SIR has started. Both sides should appreciate sensitivity.

2026-02-20 09:03 GMT

Naidu: The GOs they have issued...18 February they issued this notification...

CJI: Mr Sibal, if this is the communication by state, despite our 9 Feb order

Sibal: We have given Group B officers

CJI: Where are SDM rank officers? In WB, SDM is a Group A officer

Sibal: It's for micro observers

CJI: They are asking as EROs. We are disappointed to see. We were expecting cooperation by state

2026-02-20 09:02 GMT

Live Law

@LiveLawIndia

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18m

Sibal reads first direction of earlier order:

"(i) Let the State Government ensure that all the 8550 Group B officers, whose list was handed over today, report for duty to the District Collector/ERO tomorrow by 5 PM. The ECI shall have the discretion to replace the existing ERO/AEROs and utilise the services of the officers who have now been placed at their service, subject to their suitability"

CJI to ECI: Did you find any eligible officer?

Naidu: We wrote to them. They replied a few days back it is under consideration - you wait.

2026-02-20 09:02 GMT

Hearing begins

Sr Adv Kapil Sibal: On 9 Feb, your lordships passed an order...time was extended...this order was passed, they stopped the uploading of documents allowed to be scrutinized.

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