The Crossbill News Desk
With the hearings on alleged “logical discrepancies” under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls concluding in West Bengal on Saturday, officials indicated that a fresh round of deletions is imminent.
Quoting sources in the Election Commission, The Indian Express reported that the names of an additional 4.98 lakh voters are likely to be removed from the rolls for failing to appear at the hearings.
Election Commission sources further told the newspaper that scrutiny of documents submitted by those who did attend the hearings has revealed significant deficiencies. As many as 1.63 lakh individuals were unable to furnish valid documents, making the deletion of their names from the voters’ list highly probable.
The ongoing exercise follows a substantial revision in its first phase, during which 58 lakh electors — nearly 8 per cent of the total 7.66 crore voters listed in the 2025 electoral roll — were removed on grounds of being absent, shifted, deceased or duplicated entries.
“So far, in the second phase of the SIR (in West Bengal), 6.61 lakh names have been deleted from the voters’ list. Adding to the deletions in the first phase, it totals 64 lakh names… The scrutiny of the documents will continue till February 21, and more names will likely be deleted. The final electoral rolls are slated for publication on February 28,” an EC official told the newspaper.
The matter also came up before the Supreme Court earlier this week.
Last Monday, the Supreme Court extended the SIR deadline for West Bengal and made it clear that the revision process should not face obstruction.
“Whatever orders or clarification are required, we will issue. But we will not allow any impediment to the SIR process. This must be understood by all states,” Chief Justice Surya Kant had said while hearing petitions filed by a TMC MP and others against the EC’s drive.
Quoting sources in the Election Commission, The Indian Express reported that the names of an additional 4.98 lakh voters are likely to be removed from the rolls for failing to appear at the hearings.
Election Commission sources further told the newspaper that scrutiny of documents submitted by those who did attend the hearings has revealed significant deficiencies. As many as 1.63 lakh individuals were unable to furnish valid documents, making the deletion of their names from the voters’ list highly probable.
The ongoing exercise follows a substantial revision in its first phase, during which 58 lakh electors — nearly 8 per cent of the total 7.66 crore voters listed in the 2025 electoral roll — were removed on grounds of being absent, shifted, deceased or duplicated entries.
“So far, in the second phase of the SIR (in West Bengal), 6.61 lakh names have been deleted from the voters’ list. Adding to the deletions in the first phase, it totals 64 lakh names… The scrutiny of the documents will continue till February 21, and more names will likely be deleted. The final electoral rolls are slated for publication on February 28,” an EC official told the newspaper.
The matter also came up before the Supreme Court earlier this week.
Last Monday, the Supreme Court extended the SIR deadline for West Bengal and made it clear that the revision process should not face obstruction.
“Whatever orders or clarification are required, we will issue. But we will not allow any impediment to the SIR process. This must be understood by all states,” Chief Justice Surya Kant had said while hearing petitions filed by a TMC MP and others against the EC’s drive.
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