Supreme Court issues show cause notice to the West Bengal DGP

 Supreme Court issues show cause notice to the West Bengal DGP, directing him to file a personal affidavit on allegations that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was crippled by threats, violence and intimidation, as flagged by the Election Commission of India #westbengalsir #SupremeCourt. 

Supreme Court delivers a major setback to the Mamata Banerjee govt.

No stay on SIR, full backing to the Election Commission’s authority. Form-7 objections must be considered regardless of personal presence. State’s failure to appoint senior EROs exposed, EC empowered to act against errant officials without state interference. Intimidation of citizens noted; DGP summoned.

The Court also took on record the failure of the state government to post EROs of appropriate seniority, acknowledging that this administrative lapse directly affected the SIR process. As a result, the Mamata Banerjee government was forced to finally provide adequate manpower for the revision exercise. It has made it clear that micro-observers will continue in their supporting role and that EROs must take decisions strictly as per law, not political convenience. Rule of law will prevail in Bengal.

The Supreme Court’s observations on the plea filed by the West Bengal government are nothing short of a major blow to Mamata Banerjee. The Court has unequivocally upheld the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and refused to grant any stay, firmly endorsing the Election Commission’s statutory authority. It has made it clear that micro-observers will continue in their supporting role and that EROs must take decisions strictly as per law, not political convenience. Crucially, the Supreme Court has held that objections filed in Form 7 must be considered under the statutory scheme irrespective of the personal presence of the objector, a direct rejection of the attempts to dilute citizens’ rights. The Court also took on record the failure of the state government to post EROs of appropriate seniority, acknowledging that this administrative lapse directly affected the SIR process. As a result, the Mamata Banerjee government was forced to finally provide adequate manpower for the revision exercise. Had the state government acted responsibly earlier, ordinary citizens of Bengal would not have been subjected to what the Chief Minister herself termed as “harassment.” Most significantly, EROs are now on clear notice. The Supreme Court has unambiguously empowered the Election Commission to take disciplinary action against errant officials without routing it through the state government. Partisan conduct, political pressure, and deviation from service standards will no longer be tolerated. The Court also took cognisance of targeted intimidation and violence against conscientious citizens who filed Form 7 objections. It has recorded the abject failure of the state to maintain law and order and has directed the DGP (in-charge) to explain this breakdown. This order reinforces one simple truth: constitutional institutions will not bend before political pressure and the rule of law will prevail in Bengall, says BJP.