West Bengal SIR : Live Updates From Supreme Court Hearing
LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK
20 Feb 2026 2:27 PM IST
The Supreme Court is hear today a batch of petitions related to Wes tBengal SIR, including WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's plea raising issues inter-alia about characterization of voters in the 'logical discrepancy' list
Bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi
Earlier, the Court directed the State to make available to ECI Group B officers for SIR duties, who can replace the micro-observers deployed by ECI.
The Court also clarified that final orders on claims and objections can be passed only by the Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), and that the micro-observers can only assist them.
The Court also directed the Director General of Police of the State to file a personal affidavit responding to the concerns raised by the ECI regarding failure to stop threats and violence against SIR officials.
Follow this page for live updates.
Live Updates
- 20 Feb 2026 2:33 PM IST
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.
- 20 Feb 2026 2:33 PM IST
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
- 20 Feb 2026 2:32 PM IST
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.