The SC directed the election authority to publish the list of voters in West Bengal on February 28. However, the supplementary lists could be published continuously until the nomination, the Supreme Court said. File | Photo credit: PTI
About 530 judicial officers have been deputed to complete the Special Intensive Review (SIR) in West Bengal and about 280 have started processing claims and objections, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal said on Thursday (Feb 26, 2026). He said that an OTP has been generated for them to access the database of pending cases of SIR.
On Thursday (February 26, 2026), Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul met the CEO and top government officials to review the ongoing SIR.
On February 20, highlighting the trust deficit between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India, the Supreme Court told the Supreme Court to appoint judicial officers from the state to process SIR-related claims and objections.
The Chief Justice informed the high court on February 24 that though 294 judicial officers in the ranks of district judges and other district judges have been deployed, it is not enough. The Supreme Court then suggested engaging judicial officers from Odisha and Jharkhand. He said the Calcutta High Court is empowered to depute civil judges, both higher and lower division, with at least three years’ experience.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Agarwal said that the Central Armed Police Force would arrive in the state by February 28 and district officials would deploy their forces as a confidence-building measure. About 480 companies of forces will be deployed in West Bengal in two phases till March 10.
Assembly elections in West Bengal are likely to be held in the next few months. State elections can only be declared after the SIR is completed and the complete voter list is published. The Supreme Court ordered the election authority to publish the list of voters in West Bengal on February 28. However, the supplementary lists could be published continuously until the nomination, the Supreme Court said.
Published – 26 Feb 2026 20:56 IST
