Overview
- India’s top court criticised the SIR process for causing stress in West Bengal and directed the Election Commission to publish names on the ‘logical discrepancy’ list at local offices, issue receipts, and ensure adequate manpower at hearings.
- The Election Commission defended the SIR before the Supreme Court as a constitutionally grounded, legislative-type exercise under Article 324 with a liberal presumption of citizenship.
- Operational steps intensified with 11 additional central roll observers sent to West Bengal, taking the total to 20, as officials prepared for more monitoring of hearings and field work.
- Sources indicated the hearing window is likely to be extended by 10 days, which could push publication of the final rolls beyond the earlier February 14 timeline.
- Protests and vandalism were reported at multiple hearing centres and roads were blocked across several districts, while TMC labeled the exercise ‘software-intensive rigging’, the BJP alleged ‘statewide anarchy’, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instructed DMs to follow the court’s directives, and cricketer Mohammed Shami urged citizens to participate.