West Bengal’s electoral overhaul faces renewed scrutiny as the Election Commission enforces Supreme Court guidelines with an iron fist during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The January 19, 2026, directive from the top court seeks to streamline operations and reduce public anxiety in a process impacting crores.
Originating from Writ Petition (Civil) 1089/2025 (Mostari Banu vs. EC), the ruling prioritizes transparency and ease. All SIR-related activities—gathering documents, filing objections, and conducting hearings—are to be centralized at panchayat buildings, block offices, sub-divisional public venues, and city ward centers.
The state must bolster the Chief Electoral Office with sufficient staff to process claims from 1.25-1.36 crore ‘logical discrepancy’ recipients. Collectors and SPs bear responsibility for deploying personnel and security to keep things running seamlessly.
Police leadership, including the DGP and district SPs, face explicit orders to safeguard sites from disturbances, guaranteeing peaceful execution. The EC has signaled zero tolerance for negligence, promising accountability measures.
With 1.36 crore notices—roughly one in five residents—drawing judicial attention to ‘undue stress,’ the SC introduced reforms like displaying lists publicly, permitting agent submissions, and validating Class 10 cards. Timed before the April-May 2026 Assembly elections, SIR aims to eradicate inaccuracies, ensuring a robust voter base and upholding democratic standards across the state.