"Not The First Time," Supreme Court On Mass Fresh Voter Enrolments Amidst West Bengal SIR

The Supreme Court today refused to entertain the allegations made before it over submission of 30,000 Form 6 applications during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in the state of West Bengal.

Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay told a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi that in one case, a person had submitted 30,000 Form 6 applications. Form 6 is applied for inclusion in electoral roll for the first time or for changing the constituency following shifting of residence. "Recent ECI notification allows Form 6.. but Form 6 cannot be allowed when adjudication is going on...now bundles of form 6 coming... I am not blaming any political parties," the senior counsel stated.

"Happens every time, not the first time. You can raise objections," CJI Kant said in response.

Senior Advocate DS Naidu, appearing for ECI, defended the Form 6 submissions saying that law allows inclusion till the last day of nominations. "It can be anyone who becomes 18... if somebody has a right, nobody can thwart it," Naidu added.

Reportedly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Chief Election Commissioner levelling serious charges of misuse of Form 6, for enrolling new voters, to bring in outsiders as fake voters into West Bengal's electoral rolls.

Supreme Court further noted that the Calcutta High Court Chief justice had identified former chief justices for the constitution of appellate tribunals to decide appeals. "We have been updated about disposal of objections by judicial officers besides the proposal to publish the first supplementary list. There is another communication dated March 31 whereby we are informed that till March 31, 36 lakhs objections decided out of 65 lakhs. Total disposal has crossed 47.40 lakhs. ECI has notified constitution of 19 appellate tribunals. A team of state, ECI and inspected premises for the appellate tribunal to function have also been identified.." the court noted.

Recently, Supreme Court had expressed its concerns over continuous impediments coming in the way of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls being conducted in the state of West Bengal by the Election Commission of India. "I was reading an article on SIR. Except West Bengal, everywhere it has happened smoothly...The article mentioned this", CJI Kant said while hearing fresh issues flagged by the state.

Earlier court had also warned the West Bengal government that it should not make excuses to stall the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. On February 20, the court had directed for judicial officers to assist in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in West Bengal. Court reiterated that the SIR process should go on smoothly without any hindrances.

Court had recently also sent a strong signal backing the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, while firmly cautioning the state government against any obstruction in the process. CJI Surya Kant had then made it clear that the court would not permit impediments to the SIR exercise, which is currently underway in the state ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. “Whatever orders or clarifications are required, we will issue. But we will not allow any impediment to the SIR process. This must be understood,” the Chief Justice had said.

The observations came while the court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the SIR process in West Bengal, including a petition filed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state government has questioned the manner in which the voter roll revision is being carried out, raising concerns over potential deletions and the deployment of micro-observers. The bench had asked the West Bengal government to extend full cooperation to the Election Commission and questioned delays in providing manpower requested by the poll body. The court specifically flagged the timing and manner in which the state had communicated the availability of officers for the exercise, indicating dissatisfaction with the response.

Case Title: Mostari Bapu v. Election Commission of India & Anr. (with connected matters)

Bench: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi

Hearing Date: April 1, 2026