In a significant development concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the Supreme Court has extended the deadline for scrutiny of claims and objections. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria issued a series of directives on Monday, addressing concerns raised by various parties, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The court has extended the deadline for objections in the West Bengal SIR case by a week from February 14. This extension aims to provide Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) with more time to complete the scrutiny of documents and make appropriate decisions. The EROs are instructed to consider all documents listed in the SIR notice, alongside documents like admit cards and Aadhaar, during the verification process.

Moreover, the Supreme Court addressed the issue of state government officials' involvement in the SIR process. It directed the West Bengal government to make Group B officers available to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for SIR duties. These officers can potentially replace micro-observers deployed by the ECI. The court clarified that final decisions on claims and objections rest solely with the EROs; micro-observers can only provide assistance.

Concerns regarding law and order and potential threats against SIR officials were also addressed. The Supreme Court directed the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal to file a personal affidavit responding to the ECI's complaints about failures in preventing such incidents.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court sent a clear message to all states, asserting that it would not allow any impediments to the SIR exercise. This statement underscores the court's commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.

During the proceedings, the West Bengal CEO's advocate, Dama Seshadri Naidu, raised concerns about the time required to train new officers for election duty, given the original February 14 deadline. However, the ECI ultimately agreed to consider the suitability of officers nominated by the state and deploy them accordingly.

Mamata Banerjee, who appeared in person before the Supreme Court, had challenged the SIR process, particularly the ECI's categorization of voters into a "logical discrepancy" category. Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, representing Banerjee, argued against the "extra-legal role" allegedly given to micro-observers appointed by the ECI from other states and central PSUs.

These directives from the Supreme Court seek to balance the need for timely completion of the SIR process with ensuring a fair and thorough revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The extension of the deadline, coupled with the court's instructions regarding state officials and law enforcement, reflects an effort to address concerns raised by all parties involved and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.