The Supreme Court on Monday cautioned the West Bengal government against creating any "impediments" in the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls process, even as it assured that genuine difficulties in the process would be addressed. The warning came during the hearing of petitions challenging the SIR process being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the state.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made the court’s position clear, stating, "We will remove hurdles, but we will not create any impediments in the completion of SIR. Let us be very clear about it".
The bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria emphasised that the revision exercise must proceed as scheduled.
Senior advocate DS Naidu, appearing for the poll body, raised serious concerns over the appointment of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
He argued that EROs perform quasi-judicial functions and therefore must possess adequate adjudicatory experience.
Naidu submitted that while the ECI had sought around 300 Group B officers, only 64 officers with such experience were provided, with the remaining appointments made on the basis of pay parity.
He contended that officers such as engineers were ill-equipped to handle adjudicatory decisions under the SIR, which are open to challenge before appellate authorities.
