‘No obstruction will be allowed in SIR’: SC sends clear message to states on Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s plea | India News

New Delhi: Supreme Court No “impediment” will be allowed in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls in states, it said on Monday. The Supreme Court is hearing a slew of petitions related to SIR in West Bengal, including Mamata Banerjee Among other issues, this poses challenges to the way voters are classified in the “logical difference” list.Live Law quoted the Chief Justice of India as saying: “Whatever order or clarification is required, we will issue it. But we will not allow any obstruction to the SIR. All states must understand this.”The SC directed the Bangladesh government to provide Group B officers to the Election Commission for discharge of SIR duties, allowing them to replace the micro observers appointed by the ECI. It clarified that only the Electoral Registration Officer can issue final orders on claims and objections, while micro-observers can only provide assistance.The judge extended the deadline for review of documents and objections by at least a week beyond February 14, the date when the final electoral list will be released.It also asked the state’s police chief to submit a personal affidavit to address the ECI’s concerns over threats and violence against SIR officials.Last week, Banerjee personally appeared before the Supreme Court, calling on it to intervene to “protect democracy”, intensifying her long-standing confrontation with the Election Commission over the Special Intensification Amendment (SIR) issue of the electoral roll.

She raised questions about the ongoing SIR exercise in the state, claiming that Bengal was deliberately targeted and its residents were “crushed” during the revision process.A public interest litigation filed by Sanatani Sangsad, calling for state police officials to be placed under the Election Commission of India until the final electoral roll is released, has also been heard by a judge. In its response, the ECI said incidents of violence, intimidation and interference with SIR-related duties occurred in West Bengal.