High Court’s Big Verdict on SIR! Election Commission Clarifies Who Won’t Need New Documents for Voter List

SIR Voter List: In a major development regarding the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state, the Election Commission of India has provided a significant clarification. During the hearing at the Calcutta High Court, the commission stated clearly that individuals whose names were on the 2002 voter list will not need to submit any new documents for the current SIR process. This announcement has brought relief to many people across the state.

The case was heard by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Smita Das. The PIL was filed by advocate Sabyasachi Chatterjee. The petitioner clarified that he is not against the SIR process itself, but is raising questions about its transparency. He informed the court that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are facing threats in various parts of the state and their security needs to be ensured.

Election Commission’s Statement

The National Election Commission clarified its stance in court. The key points from the commission’s submission are:

• 2002 Voter List: The last SIR was conducted in 2002. Those whose names were included in the voter list at that time will not be required to show any new documents during this revision.
• Aadhaar Card: As per the Supreme Court’s directive, although the Aadhaar card is checked as a proof of identity, it is not proof of citizenship.
• Report Submission: The court has directed the commission to submit a report by the 19th of this month detailing how the SIR process is being conducted.

When the petitioner’s lawyer demanded security for the BLOs, the Acting Chief Justice remarked, “The government knows how to provide security to its employees. There is no need for a separate order for this.”

The Political Angle

It is noteworthy that this SIR process has been initiated in the state ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Since November 4, BLOs have started visiting homes to distribute forms. This process has sparked a sharp political debate between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition party BJP.

The Trinamool Congress alleges that under the pretext of SIR, an atmosphere of fear is being created to disenfranchise people by removing their names from the voter list, thereby questioning their citizenship. Citing the example of Bihar, they pointed out that nearly 30 lakh voters’ names were deleted from the list after the SIR process there.

On the other hand, the BJP counters that this process will help weed out deceased voters, infiltrators, and individuals with names on multiple voter lists. They have assured that no genuine voter’s name will be removed.