Supreme Court Hearing: Mamata alleges SIR geared towards voter deletions
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing: Mamata Banerjee Addresses Supreme Court
Supreme Court Bengal SIR Case: Mamata's lawyer cites minor name variations
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, told the Supreme Court that more than half of the cases flagged under the “logical discrepancy” category involved minor name variations or spelling mismatches.
He cited examples to illustrate the issue, saying that in one case, the father’s name in the 2002 records included “Kumar” as a middle name, which did not appear in the 2025 record. In another instance, the father’s name “Alauddin Khan” was recorded in Bengali without the “Kh” sound, leading to a discrepancy.
Responding to the submissions, the Chief Justice of India sought clarification, asking whether the issue in such cases was essentially one of spelling differences.
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: CJI questions name mismatch cases
The Chief Justice of India referred to instances of name mismatches, asking whether the court was dealing with cases where surnames were spelled differently — such as “Datta” and “Dutta,” or “Sharma” and “Sarma.”
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, responded that these were precisely the kinds of real-life examples voters were facing on the ground.
The CJI, however, remarked that directing the withdrawal of notices at this stage would be impractical, as the notices had already been issued.
Bengal SIR SC Hearing: Court weighs need for clear reasons
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, told the Supreme Court that notices issued to voters must contain at least a brief explanation so individuals understand why their names have been flagged.
Without a clear reason, he argued, people would be left in the dark about why they were placed on the list.
The Chief Justice of India responded that the concern about informing voters of the reasons was valid. However, he noted that the court had already addressed the manner in which such communication should take place, observing that the published list was not the only form of intimation and that individual notices sent to voters were expected to spell out the reasons.
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: Mamata flags rejection of documents, seeks transparency
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee submitted that several documents included in the approved list of proofs are allegedly not being accepted during the SIR process.
She also raised objections to what she described as a non-statutory category of “logical discrepancy” being used to issue notices to lakhs of voters. Banerjee urged the court to direct the Election Commission of India (ECI) to disclose specific reasons for flagging each voter and issuing notices.
According to her submissions, while notices mention basic details such as the voter’s name, age, and gender, they often only carry the abbreviation “DM” — stated to mean “discrepancy in mapping” — without clearly explaining the nature of the discrepancy.
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: Senior lawyers appear
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appeared for the West Bengal government, while Senior Advocate Shyam Divan represented Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the Bengal Special Intensive Revision (SIR) matter was taken up in the Supreme Court.
As the hearing began, Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee moved to the front row of the courtroom. Divan informed the bench that a short note had been filed on Banerjee’s behalf seeking urgent directions.
He submitted that the application was in furtherance of the directions issued by the court on January 19, 2026, and requested that it be considered on priority.
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: Bengal SIR matter to be heard soon
Counsel noted that the morning’s sequence had indicated it would be taken up after Item 16, asking whether it would be heard soon. The Chief Justice of India responded, “Just wait… only two more matters are left, then it will be taken up.”
During the proceedings, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rose from her seat at the back and moved closer to the podium to address the Bench. Her legal team, including senior advocates Shaym Divan and Gopal Sankarnaryanan, took positions at the front row near the podium, ready to present arguments once the matter is called.
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seen seated inside the Supreme Court
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: Mamata Banerjee matter likely after lunch
Proceedings related to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are likely to be taken up after lunch, after the Supreme Court bench revised its schedule and decided to sit for the entire day.
According to the revised cause list, the sequence of matters in Courtroom C1 has been changed. The bench will now hear item numbers 1 to 5, followed by item 35, then items 6 to 16, and thereafter items 40 and 41. These matters will be taken up first, after which the remaining cases will be heard.
Sources said the Mamata Banerjee-related matter is expected to be listed in the later part of the schedule, making it likely to be heard post-lunch.
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: Mamata Banerjee meets advocates
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: Key demands
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing: Subtle signals as Mamata in Supreme Court
As she entered the Supreme Court, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was heard telling members of her team, “I shall sit behind, right behind,” suggesting she would take a seat quietly during the proceedings.
Observers also noted a visual detail that drew attention. During her recent meeting with the Election Commission, Banerjee had worn a black shawl, and members of her delegation, including those presented as affected by the SIR process, were similarly dressed. She arrived at the Supreme Court carrying a black stole, a choice some see as symbolically consistent with her earlier appearance.
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: 'I shall sit behind', Mamata Banerjee takes seat
As she entered the Supreme Court premises, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was heard telling members of her team, “I shall sit behind, right behind,” indicating she would take a seat quietly in the courtroom during the proceedings.
Bengal SIR SC Hearing: Mamata Banerjee's past appeal to CJI may echo in courtroom
As West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee prepares to argue her case before the Supreme Court, she may draw on remarks she made last month in the presence of the Chief Justice of India during his visit to the state for the inauguration of the Calcutta High Court’s circuit bench in Jalpaiguri.
At the event, Banerjee urged the judiciary to safeguard constitutional values, saying, “Our Constitution and democracy must be protected from disaster. Agencies are deliberately defaming people. Please protect the people, save the judiciary. We are under your custody, and you are the guardian of the Constitution.”
Her earlier comments are now being seen as setting the tone for the arguments she is expected to advance in court.
Bengal SIR Supreme Court Hearing Live: Senior lawyer Shyam Divan to appear for Mamata Banerjee
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan will represent West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. He will argue on her behalf in her plea challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
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Supreme Court Bengal SIR Case: Mamata Banerjee enters with lawyers
