Security arrangements have been beefed up in parts of West Bengal ahead of the announcement of the final electoral roll or state voter list linked to the elections as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR).
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday deployed 240 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in West Bengal.
When will West Bengal SIR Voters List 2026 be released?
With the Election Commission of India’s deadline to publish the final voters’ list for West Bengal on February 28, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday began publishing post-SIR electoral rolls for the state in a phased manner, with figures from Bankura district indicating that about 1.18 lakh names have been deleted since the process began.
Paper copies of the updated lists have been put up in districts including Bankura and Cooch Behar, even as the lists were not made available online on dedicated EC portals and mobile apps till latest reports received, according to news agency PTI.
On February 24, citing its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court ordered the poll body to continue publishing supplementary voter lists even after the final electoral list is notified on February 28, in order to ensure that no eligible voter is denied the right to vote before the next House of Representatives elections.
The court noted that even if each judicial official decided 250 cases per day, this process would take about 80 days, far exceeding the deadline set for February 28.
The Supreme Court bench clarified that voters included in these supplementary lists will be considered part of the final list published on February 28, as HT had previously reported.
“The last date for verification of electoral rolls is February 28. However, if the verification process remains incomplete as on February 28, the Election Commission of India may publish the final list followed by supplementary final lists. These supplements will be published on an ongoing basis once the pending process in respect of all such cases is completed. We deem it appropriate to exercise our power under Section 142 and declare that the voters included in the supplementary lists will be deemed to be part of the final list published on February 28.” Bench order.
