Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Rejects Early Bengal SIR Hearing Before Bypolls
The Supreme Court is hearing complaints about changes to voter lists in West Bengal.
Some people appealed after their names were removed or challenged during the revision.
A lawyer asked the court to hear the case before two by-elections on October 6.
The lawyer said more than 18,000 appeals from those constituencies were still waiting.
The court did not move the hearing earlier and kept it for October 5.
The by-elections will take place in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
The Election Commission said about 37 lakh appeals were still pending on September 16.
It also said more tribunals could be created to decide the appeals faster.
The Supreme Court declined to advance the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision case hearing before the October 6 bypolls.
The case will be heard on October 5, one day before voting in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
A lawyer said more than 18,000 appeals from the two constituencies remained pending and voters could miss voting again.
The Election Commission reported about 38.2-38.31 lakh appeals, of which roughly 37.05 lakh remained pending as of September 16.
The Election Commission said it could increase appellate tribunals from 19 to 42 while the Supreme Court monitors their work.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India, the Election Commission of India, appellate tribunals, and people challenging electoral-roll decisions.
- What
- The Supreme Court declined to advance the hearing of the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision matter.
- When
- The decision was made on Monday; the next hearing is scheduled for October 5, with bypolls on October 6 and counting on October 9.
- Where
- West Bengal, particularly the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies.
- Why
- A lawyer sought an earlier hearing because appeals affecting voters in the two constituencies remained pending before the bypolls.
Earlier Hearing Requested
Hearing Retained For October 5
Timing before the bypolls
Earlier Hearing Requested
The petitioner's counsel argued that the case should be heard before the October 6 bypolls because more than 18,000 appeals from Nandigram and Rejinagar remained pending and affected voters could miss voting again.
Hearing Retained For October 5
The Supreme Court declined to move the hearing earlier and kept it scheduled for October 5, one day before polling.
Importance of the elections
Earlier Hearing Requested
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the right to vote matters in all elections, including by-elections, and called the SIR “the demonetisation of the Indian vote.”
Hearing Retained For October 5
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant responded that “these are only by-elections,” according to the reports. Gogoi's characterization was political and was not a ruling of the court.
Handling the appeal backlog
Earlier Hearing Requested
The pending appeals have prompted concerns that genuine voters could remain excluded from electoral rolls and miss elections.
Hearing Retained For October 5
The Election Commission reported the backlog, said the Supreme Court is monitoring the tribunals, and indicated that their number could rise from 19 to 42.
- Case
- Appeals arising from West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Court decision
- The Supreme Court declined to advance the hearing before the bypolls
- Next hearing
- October 5
- Bypolls
- Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6
- Counting
- October 9
- Appeals filed
- The Election Commission reported 38.31 lakh appeals; another report gave the figure as about 38.2 lakh
- Appeals decided and pending
- As of September 16, 1,26,194 had been decided and 37,05,235 remained pending, according to the Election Commission
- Tribunals
- The Election Commission indicated it could increase appellate tribunals from 19 to 42
Sources
‘It’s only a bye-poll’: SC refuses to advance hearing of Bengal SIR appeals
Bengal SIR case: No early hearing, ‘only by-elections’ ahead, says Supreme Court
'Only by-elections': CJI Surya Kant refuses to urgently hear Bengal SIR plea before Nandigram, Rejinagar
