26 Feb 2026·Source: The Hindu

5 min

Polity & GovernanceNEWS

Bengal Courts Face Delays as Officers Handle Electoral Roll Revision

Judicial work in West Bengal courts affected due to officers handling electoral roll revision.

The Supreme Court of India, invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) on February 25, 2026, to continue publishing supplementary voter lists in West Bengal even after the final electoral roll is notified on February 28. This decision aims to ensure no eligible voter is disenfranchised ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The Calcutta High Court Chief Justice has been authorized to draw additional judicial manpower from Jharkhand and Odisha High Courts to expedite the process, addressing approximately eight million pending cases categorized under “logical discrepancies” and “unmapped category”.

Over 250 district and additional district judges are currently handling nearly five million claims and objections under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Supreme Court clarified that voters included in these supplementary lists will be considered part of the final roll published on February 28. The court also specified that verification would be limited to documents outlined in the ECI’s October 27, 2025, notification for the SIR, including Aadhaar cards and Class 10 admit cards/certificates. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs are responsible for verifying document validity to the presiding judicial officers.

The court's intervention was prompted by a “trust deficit” between the West Bengal government and the ECI regarding the SIR exercise, which flagged nearly 13.6 million electors for “logical discrepancies,” leading to the dropping of 5.89 million names from the draft roll released in December. The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court has canceled leaves for civil judges in West Bengal to oversee compliance with Supreme Court directives. This matter is relevant for UPSC exams, particularly focusing on polity and governance aspects (GS Paper II) and the role of constitutional bodies.

Key Facts

Judicial work in West Bengal courts is affected.

Judicial officers are deployed to process electoral roll revisions.

Trials and regular proceedings are affected, except for urgent matters and bail hearings.

Committees have been formed to reassign urgent cases.

UPSC Exam Angles

GS Paper II: Polity and Governance - Role of Election Commission, Constitutional Provisions

GS Paper II: Centre-State Relations - Cooperation and conflicts between Union and States in electoral processes

GS Paper II: Judiciary - Role of Supreme Court in upholding constitutional values and electoral integrity

In Simple Words

In West Bengal, court cases are getting delayed. This is because judges are busy helping with the election process, specifically checking voter lists. So, regular court work is slowing down while judges focus on election-related tasks.

India Angle

This affects everyday Indians because justice is delayed. If you have a case in court, it might take longer to resolve. This can impact everything from property disputes to criminal trials.

For Instance

Imagine you're waiting for a court decision on a land dispute. If the judge is reassigned to election duty, your case gets pushed back, causing you stress and financial strain.

It matters because everyone deserves timely justice. When courts are slowed down, it affects people's lives and can create uncertainty.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Judicial work in district and metropolitan courts across West Bengal has been severely affected as judicial officers are deployed to process claims and objections for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the February 28 deadline. Except for urgent matters and bail hearings, trials and regular proceedings have been affected. Committees have been formed to reassign urgent cases, but uncertainty remains.

The Supreme Court directed the EC to publish the final voter rolls in West Bengal on February 28. The court highlighted a trust deficit between the West Bengal government and the EC and directed that judicial officials of the State would look into claims and objections.

Expert Analysis

The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal highlights several key constitutional and legal concepts. The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the importance of these concepts in ensuring free and fair elections.

The first key concept is Article 142 of the Constitution of India. This article grants the Supreme Court unique powers to pass any order necessary to “do complete justice” in any cause or matter pending before it. In the context of the West Bengal electoral roll revision, the Supreme Court invoked Article 142 to override the rigid statutory timeline that typically bars inclusion of voters less than 10 days before nominations. This ensured that eligible voters were not disenfranchised due to procedural constraints, thereby upholding the fairness and purity of the electoral process. The court's direction to continue publishing supplementary voter lists even after the February 28 deadline directly stems from this constitutional power.

Another crucial concept is the role and function of the Election Commission of India (ECI). As an autonomous constitutional authority established under Article 324, the ECI is responsible for superintendence, direction, and control of the entire process of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, the office of President of India and the office of Vice-President of India. The SIR exercise in West Bengal, initiated by the ECI, aimed to revise the electoral rolls and address discrepancies. However, the process faced challenges, including allegations of non-cooperation from the state government, leading to a “trust deficit” as noted by the Supreme Court. The court's intervention, including the deployment of judicial officers, was intended to strengthen the ECI's ability to conduct a fair and accurate revision, ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

Finally, the concept of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) itself is significant. SIR is a specific exercise undertaken by the ECI to update and rectify electoral rolls, typically conducted before major elections. In West Bengal, the SIR flagged approximately 13.6 million electors for “logical discrepancies,” such as mismatches in age gaps and family mapping anomalies. The scale of these discrepancies and the subsequent removal of 5.89 million names from the draft roll underscored the need for a thorough and impartial review. The Supreme Court's directives, including the use of Madhyamik admit cards and certificates for verification, aimed to standardize documentation requirements and reduce ambiguity in the SIR process, ensuring that genuine voters are included in the final electoral roll.

For UPSC aspirants, understanding these concepts is crucial for both prelims and mains examinations. Questions may arise regarding the powers of the Supreme Court under Article 142, the functions and autonomy of the ECI, and the significance of electoral roll revisions in maintaining the integrity of the democratic process. Additionally, the specific challenges faced during the SIR in West Bengal can serve as a case study for analyzing Centre-State relations and the role of constitutional bodies in ensuring free and fair elections.

Visual Insights

West Bengal Courts Affected by Electoral Roll Revision

Map showing West Bengal where court proceedings are delayed due to judicial officers being deployed for electoral roll revision.

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📍West Bengal

More Information

Background

The current situation in West Bengal regarding the revision of electoral rolls is rooted in the constitutional mandate for free and fair elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI), established under Article 324 of the Constitution, is responsible for conducting elections and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. This includes the preparation and revision of electoral rolls to ensure that all eligible citizens are included and that the rolls are free from errors and discrepancies. The need for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal arose due to significant discrepancies identified in the existing electoral rolls. These discrepancies, affecting approximately 13.6 million electors, included issues such as age mismatches and family mapping anomalies. The ECI initiated the SIR to rectify these errors and ensure the accuracy of the voter list before the upcoming assembly elections. However, the process has been marred by allegations of non-cooperation from the state government, leading to a “trust deficit” and prompting the Supreme Court's intervention. The Supreme Court's involvement is grounded in its constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law and ensure that fundamental rights, including the right to vote, are protected. By invoking Article 142, the court has taken extraordinary measures to address the situation and ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised. This intervention underscores the importance of an independent judiciary in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and resolving disputes between constitutional bodies.

Latest Developments

In recent years, the Election Commission of India has focused on enhancing the integrity and transparency of the electoral process through various initiatives. One key area has been the use of technology to improve voter registration and verification. The introduction of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Net and other online platforms has facilitated easier access to voter information and streamlined the process of registering new voters and updating existing records. Furthermore, the ECI has been actively working to address the issue of discrepancies in electoral rolls. This includes conducting special drives to identify and remove duplicate or ineligible voters, as well as implementing stricter verification procedures to prevent fraudulent registrations. The ongoing SIR in West Bengal is part of this broader effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of voter lists across the country. The Supreme Court's intervention in the West Bengal case underscores the importance of these efforts and the need for cooperation between the ECI and state governments to achieve these goals. Looking ahead, the ECI is expected to continue its focus on leveraging technology and strengthening verification processes to enhance the integrity of elections. This includes exploring the use of Aadhaar-based authentication for voter registration and implementing measures to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation during elections. The success of these initiatives will depend on the ECI's ability to work collaboratively with state governments and other stakeholders to address the challenges and ensure that elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the Supreme Court involved in directing the ECI regarding West Bengal's electoral roll revision?

The Supreme Court invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised before the upcoming assembly elections. There was a trust deficit between the West Bengal government and the ECI, as highlighted by the Supreme Court on February 20. This intervention aims to ensure free and fair elections by addressing discrepancies in the electoral rolls.

Exam Tip

Remember Article 142 is often used by the Supreme Court to ensure 'complete justice'. Tie this to election-related articles like Article 324.

2. What is the likely impact of deploying judicial officers for electoral roll revision on the judicial process in West Bengal?

The deployment of over 250 district and additional district judges to handle electoral roll revisions is affecting judicial work. Trials and regular proceedings are being delayed, except for urgent matters and bail hearings. Committees have been formed to reassign urgent cases, indicating a significant disruption to the normal functioning of the courts.

Exam Tip

Note the phrase 'except for urgent matters and bail hearings'. UPSC loves to create MCQs that overgeneralize. They might say 'all judicial work is halted,' which is incorrect.

3. How does the Representation of the People Act, 1950 relate to the current situation in West Bengal?

The Representation of the People Act, 1950 provides the legal framework for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls in India. The current intensive revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, including the handling of claims and objections, is being conducted under the provisions of this Act. The Act ensures that the electoral rolls are accurate and up-to-date, which is crucial for free and fair elections.

Exam Tip

Remember the year 1950 for the Representation of the People Act. A common trick is to confuse it with the RPA of 1951 (Conduct of Elections).

4. What is the significance of the 'Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Net' mentioned in the context of electoral roll revision?

The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Net is an online platform used to improve voter registration and verification. It facilitates easier access to voter information and streamlines the process of registering new voters and updating existing records. This contributes to enhancing the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.

Exam Tip

ERO Net is related to ECI's efforts to digitize and streamline the electoral process. In Mains, you can cite it as a positive step towards electoral reforms.

5. How does this situation in West Bengal reflect on the Election Commission of India's (ECI) role and authority?

This situation highlights the ECI's crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections, even when facing challenges such as a trust deficit with the state government. The Supreme Court's intervention reinforces the ECI's authority and its constitutional mandate to conduct elections impartially. The ECI's efforts to revise electoral rolls and address discrepancies demonstrate its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

6. What are the potential long-term implications of using judicial officers for non-judicial tasks like electoral roll revision?

Using judicial officers for electoral roll revision, while addressing an immediate need, could set a precedent that affects the judiciary's independence and efficiency in the long run. It raises questions about the separation of powers and the potential for overburdening the judiciary with administrative tasks. It also highlights the need for better resource allocation and staffing within the election machinery to handle such tasks without disrupting the judicial process.

•Potential delays in judicial proceedings due to reassignment of judges.
•Increased workload on the remaining judicial officers.
•Possible impact on public trust in the judiciary if perceived as being involved in political processes.

Exam Tip

In Mains, when discussing separation of powers, you can use this as a case study of blurring lines between the executive (ECI) and the judiciary.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding Article 142 of the Constitution of India: 1. It empowers the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary to do complete justice in any cause or matter before it. 2. This power is subject to any restrictions imposed by parliamentary law. 3. The Supreme Court invoked this article recently during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 and 2 only
B.1 and 3 only
C.2 and 3 only
D.1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is CORRECT: Article 142 indeed empowers the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary to do complete justice. Statement 2 is INCORRECT: The power under Article 142 is not subject to restrictions imposed by parliamentary law, giving the Supreme Court broad discretion. Statement 3 is CORRECT: The Supreme Court invoked Article 142 during the SIR in West Bengal to ensure fair elections by allowing supplementary voter lists after the deadline.

2. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the Election Commission of India (ECI)? A) The ECI is a constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Constitution. B) The ECI is responsible for conducting elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President. C) The ECI is subordinate to the Union Law Ministry in matters of electoral roll preparation. D) The ECI initiated the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.

Show Answer

Answer: C

Options A, B, and D are correct statements about the ECI. However, Option C is INCORRECT. The ECI is an autonomous body and is not subordinate to any ministry. It independently handles electoral roll preparation and other election-related matters.

3. In the context of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, what was the primary reason cited by the Supreme Court for its intervention? A) Lack of sufficient polling booths in the state. B) Allegations of non-cooperation from the state government, leading to a 'trust deficit'. C) Demands for postponement of the assembly elections. D) Concerns over the deployment of central paramilitary forces.

Show Answer

Answer: B

The Supreme Court intervened primarily due to allegations of non-cooperation from the West Bengal state government, which led to a 'trust deficit' between the state government and the Election Commission of India (ECI). This prompted the court to take measures to ensure a fair and transparent revision of the electoral rolls.