Supreme Court to Consider Trinamool Congress Appeals Regarding Victory Margins Lower than Deleted Votes in SIR Case.

The Supreme Court has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conclude its investigation into the incident involving seven judicial officers who were gheraoed in Malda on April 1, 2026, prior to the West Bengal Assembly elections. This order comes amidst a broader examination of alleged electoral irregularities that have surfaced following the vote, particularly focusing on the deletions during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee claims materially influenced the election results.

The hearing centered on the claims that the substantial deletions during the SIR process—along with unresolved appeals related to these deletions—could have altered the outcomes in several constituencies. Senior advocate Kalyan Bandhopadhyay highlighted that in 31 seats won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the victory margins were less than the number of deleted votes currently under adjudication, raising questions about the integrity of the election process. With over 34 lakh appeals lodged against wrongful exclusions from the electoral rolls, the adjudication process has faced significant delays, prompting concerns about whether affected voters were able to participate in the election.

In response to the mounting concerns regarding the electoral process, Justice Bagchi has requested a report from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on the status of pending appeals. The Supreme Court’s involvement underscores the necessity for immediate judicial oversight to ensure that the appeals process is expedited and that any procedural lapses in the SIR are addressed. As the court continues to scrutinize these allegations, the possibility of legal challenges to the election results remains open, with the Election Commission also indicating that the aggrieved parties can pursue formal election petitions if they choose.