§  West Bengal SIR Voter List Update 2026

§  Hearings End, Final List Coming Soon Amid Protests

§  Discover the latest on West Bengal SIR Voter List Update 2026

§  What You Need to Know About the Special Intensive Revision Process and Why It’s Sparking Debates

§  Hearings over, final list on Feb 28 amid Mamata Banerjee’s Supreme Court battle and statewide protests

§  Get simple explanations, key quotes and impacts for better understanding

The Daily Hints, Kolkata: West Bengal SIR hearings completed – final voter list publishes Feb 28, document upload/scrutiny ends Feb 21.
Supreme Court (CJI Suryakant) cleared SIR continuation despite Mamata Banerjee’s petition alleging targeting voters.

Details & Context

SIR Schedule (Revised)

·       Hearings: Completed (1.39cr cases)

·       Document upload/scrutiny: Till Feb 21

·       Polling station rationalization: Feb 25

·       Health checks: Feb 27

·       Final list: Feb 28, 2026

State Update: 8,505 Group B officers deployed after SC order.

The SIR process kicked off on December 27, 2025, targeting “unmapped” voters—those whose details didn’t match old records like the 2002 electoral rolls. The Election Commission of India (ECI) aimed to fix errors, remove fake entries and ensure only eligible people vote in upcoming elections like the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls. But things got messy fast. Over a month and a half, hearings faced backlash for being too harsh with people complaining about long waits, confusing notices and pressure to prove citizenship.

In simple terms, if your name was flagged due to a spelling mistake, address change after marriage or missing documents, you had to appear for a hearing. The ECI used micro-observers—special helpers—to assist but critics say they overstepped, acting like judges instead of just aides. Districts like Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Malda, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore saw the most issues with the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar calling out local officials for negligence during a video conference on Friday. He warned that district magistrates would be held responsible if foreign names slipped into the lists and action could come even after five years.

Protests erupted statewide with crowds demanding a fairer system. Mamata Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led rallies and even took families of those who allegedly died from the stress to Delhi for support. She argued the SIR is like a backdoor NRC (National Register of Citizens), targeting minorities, the poor and disabled folks unfairly. The Supreme Court stepped in after multiple petitions, including one from Banerjee herself under Article 32, challenging the ECI’s methods. In a rare move, she appeared in court on February 4, 2026, to argue her case personally, calling the ECI a “WhatsApp Commission” for poor communication. The court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, refused to halt the SIR but extended the final publication deadline to February 21 for some steps, giving more time for fixes.

From social media buzz on X (formerly Twitter), users like @barandbench shared live updates on the heated Supreme Court sessions, where Banerjee claimed 1.36 crore voters risked deletion over minor errors. Posts from @TheDarjChron highlighted how the court ordered 8,505 Group B officers from the state to help ECI without replacing micro-observers, stressing they can only assist, not decide. This came after ECI complained about violence against booth-level officers (BLOs) and lack of state support, prompting the court to issue a show-cause notice to West Bengal’s DGP.

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Quotes

·       CEC Gyanesh Kumar
“DMs accountable if foreigners remain on rolls – action after 5 years.”

·       Mamata Banerjee
“SIR = bulldozer on Bengal voters.”

·       Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar: “The SIR aims to ensure no eligible voter is left out while eliminating ineligible ones. District election officers bear responsibility for any lapses and action will follow if needed.”

·       Mamata Banerjee in Supreme Court: “Living people are being marked as dead in the voter lists. This is an insult to Bengali people and targets our state unfairly ahead of elections.”

·       Petitioner Mustari Bano (from Murshidabad): “My name was in the 2002 roll but I’ve been targeted too. The Chief Minister should have acted sooner to stop the harassment.”

·       TMC MP Dola Sen: “Despite Supreme Court orders, micro-observers are still overreaching. We’re heading back to court to fix this.”

·       From X user @Amockx2022: “This is absolute cinema in Supreme Court by a sitting Chief Minister.! The arguments were so strong that SC issued notice to ECI.”

Additional Information

Controversies

·       58L+ flagged (logical deletions)

·       150+ deaths alleged (stress)

·       Protests statewide (TMC led)

·       Micro-observers accused of bias

SC Directives (Feb 9)

·       Extend scrutiny 1 week

·       DGP affidavit on violence

·       EROs final decision

Digging deeper via X searches, posts from @MeghUpdates reveal related tensions, like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) accusing Banerjee of obstructing probes in other cases, showing broader political friction. @LiveLawIndia noted dramatic court scenes where Banerjee urged to “save democracy,” highlighting how SIR links to old rolls and uses AI for checks, which petitioners call opaque. Web sources confirm the ECI summoned West Bengal’s Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty to Delhi for a one-hour grilling over non-compliance.

For voters, if your name is flagged, upload docs like Aadhaar, birth certificate or marriage proof by February 21 via the ECI app or website. The process differs from other states, as West Bengal’s SIR requires extra forms and photos, sparking discrimination claims. CPI(M) backs petitioners like Mostari Banu, arguing ECI can’t demand citizenship proof without cause. Recent X trends show #WestBengalElections2026 gaining traction with users debating if SIR will sway votes. BJP leaders like @Amitmalviya called the court’s stance a “major blow” to Banerjee.

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READ MORE: Vande Bharat Routes Closed: 2 Trains Cancelled (Udaipur-Jaipur & Agra) – New Udaipur-Ahmedabad Launch

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Impact Analysis

For Voters

·       Fix errors by Feb 21 or risk deletion

·       Foreigners off rolls – DMs liable

·       2026 Assembly polls use Feb 28 list

Politics

·       TMC vs ECI heats up

·       Dola Sen new contempt petition

·       CEC summons CS Nandini Chakraborty

This SIR mess could shake up West Bengal’s politics big time. On one hand, a cleaner voter list means fairer elections, cutting out ghosts or duplicates—ECI says it’s vital for 2026 polls. But critics fear it might delete real voters, especially from border areas or low-income groups, leading to lower turnout and bias against TMC supporters. Protests have already caused disruptions with reports of suicides from fear of losing voting rights. Economically, it strains local admins, as districts juggle hearings with daily duties. Socially, it’s widening divides with minorities feeling targeted, echoing NRC fears in Assam. If the Supreme Court sides more with petitioners in future hearings (next on February 9), it could force ECI changes nationwide. Engagement on X spiked with videos of rallies getting thousands of views, boosting awareness but also misinformation. Overall, SIR might boost voter registration drives but risks eroding trust in the system if not handled transparently.

Conclusion

Bengal SIR hearing over – Feb 28 list final for 2026 elections.
Upload documents NOW or face exclusion.

As the SIR hearings close, West Bengal stands at a crossroads. The Election Commission’s push for accurate lists clashes with fears of unfair exclusions but the Supreme Court’s involvement offers hope for balance. With the final list dropping on February 28, voters have a short window to fix issues—don’t wait.! This saga shows how electoral tweaks can spark major debates, reminding us that every vote counts in democracy.

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