File photo Election Commission and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee locked horns over the legality of engaging micro-observers by the poll panel for SIR work, the issue of spelling errors in names leading to categorisation of voters under ‘logical discrepancy’ and issuance of notices to them, and the “hurried manner” of scrutiny of voters’ identity.Mamata alleged EC was illegally employing micro-observers, who are officers from BJP-governed states or Union govt officials, as electoral officers, who are indiscriminately deleting names from rolls.EC counsel Rakesh Dwivedi said micro-observers are engaged following due process. They had to be engaged as the WB govt, despite several written requests from EC, has not provided adequate number of Class-II officers of SDM rank to carry out the scrutiny work, which involves adjudication.EC said given the fact that 1.5 crore notices were issued after finding that scrutiny is needed for over 2.1 crore voters, including the 58 lakh absent, shifted and dead, “the electoral roll of 2025 with such questionable sanctity can’t be used to conduct upcoming assembly polls (in Bengal) as this would put the entire poll and the legitimacy of the elected govt under a cloud of doubt.”The bench said no one can dispute that dead persons and illegal migrants must be removed from voters’ list but at the same time no citizen, who is a Bengal resident, should be removed from the list, it said.Mamata and advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the state govt, said of the 1.36 lakh ‘logical discrepancy’ category voters, EC has heard only 88 lakh people till date, and claimed that to complete the hearing for 63 lakh more, EC will need time beyond the Feb 7 deadline. The bench said it will extend the deadline, if needed.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosEAM Jaishankar, Marco Rubio Underscore De-Risking Supply Chains At US Critical Minerals MeetOppn Women MPs Storm Treasury Benches Amid Protests: Inside PM Modi’s Lok Sabha Speech Cancellation‘This is the era for India’: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Hails New Delhi’s Economic Rise’Agriculture, Dairy Protected’: Piyush Goyal Cheers India-US Pact; Jaishankar Meets Trump Top Aides’Insulted Sikh Community’: Hardeep Puri Slams Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Traitor’ Remark At Ravneet BittuRahul Gandhi Defends Naravane Memoir Quotes, Priyanka Questions Nishikant Dubey Quotes On Nehru’Justice Is Crying…’: Mamata Banerjee Takes EC Head On In Supreme Court Over SIR Row In Bengal‘Combatise Space Command…L1 Needs To Go.’: Expert Stresses Defence Reforms After Budget 2026India-US Trade Deal Vs India-EU FTA: Which Agreement Delivers Bigger Exports Jobs And GrowthKorean ‘Love Game’ Under Lens After Ghaziabad Sisters Suicide Raises Alarm On Digital Addiction123Photostories5 types of main door locks and which one is perfect for apartments6 reality TV couples who didn’t last: Nick Thompson and Danielle Ruhl, Josh Oyinsan and Mimii Ngulube and moreWhat’s streaming on Apple TV+ in February 2026: New seasons, romance, and monster mayhemFrom India to Russia: Stunning frozen rivers from around the world10 oldest restaurants in Bengaluru and their most popular dishesMeryl Streep films on OTT that highlight her timeless talent5 most expensive buildings from across the world and why they cost so muchMumbai–Pune Expressway turns parking lot as vehicles remain stuck for 12 hoursThis Royal in Asia owns 7000 luxury vehicles including 500 Rolls-Royce, 450 Ferraris and 380 BentleysRosa Parks once said, “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up…”: 5 lessons it teaches students123Hot PicksBudget 2026Gold Silver PricesParliament Budget SessionRelationship consentIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingNBA Trade NewsMLB Trade RumorsCardi BKayla NicoleLindsey Vonn ACL InjuryCooper DeJeanTom BradyDenver Nuggets vs Detroit PistonsWho is Mickey Lolich WifeMickey Lolich Passes Away
Election Commission and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee locked horns over the legality of engaging micro-observers by the poll panel for SIR work, the issue of spelling errors in names leading to categorisation of voters under ‘logical discrepancy’ and issuance of notices to them, and the “hurried manner” of scrutiny of voters’ identity.Mamata alleged EC was illegally employing micro-observers, who are officers from BJP-governed states or Union govt officials, as electoral officers, who are indiscriminately deleting names from rolls.EC counsel Rakesh Dwivedi said micro-observers are engaged following due process. They had to be engaged as the WB govt, despite several written requests from EC, has not provided adequate number of Class-II officers of SDM rank to carry out the scrutiny work, which involves adjudication.EC said given the fact that 1.5 crore notices were issued after finding that scrutiny is needed for over 2.1 crore voters, including the 58 lakh absent, shifted and dead, “the electoral roll of 2025 with such questionable sanctity can’t be used to conduct upcoming assembly polls (in Bengal) as this would put the entire poll and the legitimacy of the elected govt under a cloud of doubt.”The bench said no one can dispute that dead persons and illegal migrants must be removed from voters’ list but at the same time no citizen, who is a Bengal resident, should be removed from the list, it said.Mamata and advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the state govt, said of the 1.36 lakh ‘logical discrepancy’ category voters, EC has heard only 88 lakh people till date, and claimed that to complete the hearing for 63 lakh more, EC will need time beyond the Feb 7 deadline. The bench said it will extend the deadline, if needed.
