West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reached the Supreme Court today in connection with her petition challenging the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state. She may personally argue her case, a rare move for a sitting chief minister. Security at the court is unusually tight, reflecting the high-profile nature of her appearance. Her convoy entered through a gate typically reserved for judges, underscoring the significance of the occasion. Mamata Banerjee has been vocally critical of the Election Commission, alleging procedural irregularities affecting nearly 2 crore voters. She emphasized that while she respects the judiciary, she cannot ignore the potential disenfranchisement of such a large voter base. The SIR issue has been a long-standing concern, with discrepancies in voter forms cited as the primary problem. The last revision of this scale was in 2002, and the timing—just months before the upcoming elections—forms a key part of her argument. The Supreme Court will now decide whether she can present her arguments directly, and whether the Election Commission can proceed with the final voter list publication. Observers note that today’s hearing could have far-reaching political and legal consequences for voter rights in West Bengal.


