EC Releases Midnight Supplementary Roll of 29 Lakh Bengal Voters as Supreme Court Set to Hear SIR Case Today

In a significant development ahead of a crucial legal hearing, the Election Commission (EC) released the first supplementary list of nearly 29 lakh voters in West Bengal close to midnight, even as the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) case on Tuesday.

The late-night publication of the electoral roll has drawn attention due to its timing, coming just hours before the apex court takes up the matter concerning the ongoing voter list revision process in the state. The SIR exercise has been under scrutiny, with questions raised over inclusion and exclusion of names.

According to officials, the supplementary list includes around 29 lakh voters and forms part of the continuous updation of the electoral database. However, the delay in releasing the list until midnight has sparked debate among political stakeholders, particularly given the legal sensitivities surrounding the revision process.

Supreme Court to hear SIR case today

The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions related to the SIR exercise today, with concerns ranging from procedural transparency to potential discrepancies in voter inclusion. The outcome of the hearing could have a bearing on how the revision process is carried forward in West Bengal.

The revision of voter lists assumes added importance in the run-up to upcoming elections in the state, where electoral rolls often become a flashpoint between rival parties. The inclusion of such a large number of voters in a supplementary list is likely to intensify political scrutiny in the days ahead.

With the Supreme Court’s intervention now imminent, the focus remains on whether the EC’s process will withstand judicial examination and how it may impact the electoral landscape in West Bengal.​