The Supreme Court on Friday asserted that judicial officers deployed in West Bengal for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls would act independently and “will not be influenced by anything,” after the state alleged that the Election Commission had issued a training module directing judges on what documents to accept or reject.
The issue was raised by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. Sibal told the court that despite its earlier direction that modalities for the exercise would be settled by the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice and a committee, the poll body had circulated instructions to judicial officers “behind the back” specifying how claims and objections should be assessed.
Responding to the submission, the Chief Justice said the deployed judges would take decisions independently and that the court had full confidence in them. The bench made it clear that its previous orders already specified the documents to be considered and that there was no scope for deviation.
“We know our judicial officers, and they are not to be influenced by anything,” the Chief Justice said, adding that the court could not continue to entertain such complaints. Justice Bagchi observed that the court’s directions were “as clear as daylight.”
The bench further clarified that neither the Election Commission nor the state government was permitted to act beyond the framework laid down by the apex court.
The dispute arises from the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal, which has led to a large number of claims and objections from voters facing possible deletion. On February 20, the Supreme Court had issued what it termed an “extraordinary” direction for the deployment of serving and retired district judges to assist the Election Commission in handling the process.
Subsequently, on February 24, the court expanded the arrangement by allowing the deployment of West Bengal civil judges in addition to 250 district judges. It also permitted the requisitioning of judicial officers from Jharkhand and Odisha to deal with nearly 80 lakh claims and objections linked to the revision exercise.
The court’s latest remarks come amid continuing friction between the state government and the poll panel over the manner in which the revision is being conducted, with the bench reiterating that its earlier directions must be strictly followed.
