Supreme Court NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday granted the Election Commission of India (ECI) one week to respond to fresh interim pleas filed by two Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs, alleging “arbitrariness and procedural lapses” in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the party-run West Bengal.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rejected ECI’s request for two weeks and directed it to file a common response to the interim pleas filed by TMC MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen. The bench listed the plea for hearing on January 19.In his plea, O’Brien contended that the ECI is issuing instructions for SIR through “extra-statutory” means such as WhatsApp messages and oral directions during video conferences, instead of formal written orders. Drawing the CJI-led bench’s attention to this, his counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, said such practices compel booth-level officers (BLOs) to act without lawful authorisation.Sibal added that the ECI has introduced a new category of voters termed “logical discrepancies”, under which electors may be issued notices for quasi-judicial hearings on alleged errors in voter details, without any statutory backing.”The draft electoral roll published on December 16, 2025, led to the deletion of 58,20,898 names without notice or personal hearing. Nearly 31,68,424 voters could not be mapped with the 2002 electoral roll and that notices were proposed to be issued to about 1.36 crore electors under the ‘logical discrepancies’ category,” O’Brien’s application stated.The Rajya Sabha MP has sought directions to extend the January 15 deadline for filing claims and objections, restrain the ECI from issuing instructions through informal channels, and declare such instructions illegal. The plea also flagged long queues, unclear documentation requirements, restrictions on party booth-level agents, and hardship to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and medically unwell voters.A separate plea filed by his party and Rajya Sabha colleague Dola Sen similarly challenges the SIR as arbitrary and unconstitutional, warning of wrongful deletion of genuine voters.The West Bengal assembly elections are expected to be held in April–May. The Trinamool Congress, which has been in power since 2011 under chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the party supremo, will be seeking a fourth consecutive term.(With PTI inputs)About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia To Join Pax Silica As US Signals New Tech Trust Despite Trade Tensions And Tariff DisputesShaksgam Valley Row Deepens As China Rejects India’s Claim And Defends CPEC Infra Project With PakGerman Chancellor Merz Hails India-Germany Ties, Pushes For ‘Economically Meaningful’ India-EU FTA‘This Is Not India’: Protesters Disrupt Sikh Nagar Kirtan Again In New Zealand With Haka DisplayPM Modi, German Chancellor Merz Sign Key Deals As India Germany Push Indo-Pacific StrategyThird Stage Trouble Strikes Again: Inside ISRO’s PSLV-C62 Deviation And What The Failure Means Ahead’Real Friends Can Disagree, But…’: US Envoy Sergio Gor On India-US Ties, Comments On Trade Deal’Organic Shakta Response To Colonial Invasion Of Bharat’: J Sai Deepak On Hindutva At Kolkata Debate’It Reflects Hindu Tattva’: Sudhanshu Trivedi Hits Out Over Mani Shankar Aiyar’s ‘Hindutva’ RemarkPM Modi, German Chancellor Merz Fly Kites, India Signals Cultural Diplomacy And Strategic Confidence123PhotostoriesMakar Sankranti 2026: 8 types of popular Khichdi dishes to tryFirst Trial Run of Bengaluru’s Pink Line Metro Hits Tracks: What You Need To KnowFrom dust to destiny: Final rush before Delhi–Dehradun highway opens (In Photos)5 most thrilling wildlife adventures near Delhi for the Republic Day 2026 long weekendFrom Rabbit and Hare to Crocodile and Allegator: How these similar looking animals are intrinsically differentSplitsvilla X6: Confirmed contestants list of the Karan Kundrra- Sunny Leone hosted reality showMakar Sankrantri 2026: 10 traditional dishes enjoyed in Bihar and Uttar PradeshWhat 2026 is trying to teach you based on your birth numberBigg Boss Tamil 9: From Aurora to Divya Ganesh – Meet the top 4 finalists of the showWhat kids learn when parents apologise123Hot PicksISRO PSLV-C62 missionTrump tariffsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingStephen Curry BrotherLebron JamesMatthew and Brady Tkachuks Combined Net WorthVanessa BryantBengaluru Girl RapeConnor McDavidISRO LaunchGeorge Valera Net WorthNandani SharmaPierce Johnson
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday granted the Election Commission of India (ECI) one week to respond to fresh interim pleas filed by two Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs, alleging “arbitrariness and procedural lapses” in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the party-run West Bengal.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rejected ECI’s request for two weeks and directed it to file a common response to the interim pleas filed by TMC MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen. The bench listed the plea for hearing on January 19.In his plea, O’Brien contended that the ECI is issuing instructions for SIR through “extra-statutory” means such as WhatsApp messages and oral directions during video conferences, instead of formal written orders. Drawing the CJI-led bench’s attention to this, his counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, said such practices compel booth-level officers (BLOs) to act without lawful authorisation.Sibal added that the ECI has introduced a new category of voters termed “logical discrepancies”, under which electors may be issued notices for quasi-judicial hearings on alleged errors in voter details, without any statutory backing.“The draft electoral roll published on December 16, 2025, led to the deletion of 58,20,898 names without notice or personal hearing. Nearly 31,68,424 voters could not be mapped with the 2002 electoral roll and that notices were proposed to be issued to about 1.36 crore electors under the ‘logical discrepancies’ category,” O’Brien’s application stated.The Rajya Sabha MP has sought directions to extend the January 15 deadline for filing claims and objections, restrain the ECI from issuing instructions through informal channels, and declare such instructions illegal. The plea also flagged long queues, unclear documentation requirements, restrictions on party booth-level agents, and hardship to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and medically unwell voters.A separate plea filed by his party and Rajya Sabha colleague Dola Sen similarly challenges the SIR as arbitrary and unconstitutional, warning of wrongful deletion of genuine voters.The West Bengal assembly elections are expected to be held in April–May. The Trinamool Congress, which has been in power since 2011 under chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the party supremo, will be seeking a fourth consecutive term.(With PTI inputs)
![Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup](https://vknewstoday.in/wp-content/uploads/1776198165_photo.jpg "Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup")
