The Calcutta High Court has directed the Election Commission of India to explain why the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal is being carried out using a voter list from 2002, calling the data two decades old.
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court instructed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to clarify why the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal is based on a voter list from 2002.
A division bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, issued this order while reviewing a public interest litigation that questioned the validity of utilizing voter data that is two decades old for a new revision.
The court has requested the Commission to submit its affidavit explaining its stance by November 19.
The petition argued that relying on the outdated 2002 list compromises the accuracy and integrity of the electoral rolls, and it urged the ECI to conduct the ongoing revision using “current documents and information as of 2025.”
Representing the Election Commission, its counsel informed the bench that the last special intensive revision was indeed carried out in 2002, and the current process adheres to the procedural guidelines established by the Commission.
Additionally, the petitioners expressed concerns regarding the safety of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) involved in the revision process, claiming that many officers are working under an “intimidating atmosphere” and need appropriate protection to perform their duties effectively.
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The ECI is currently conducting the special revision in 12 states, including West Bengal, where Assembly elections are anticipated before mid-2026.
The High Court plans to revisit the issue once the Commission submits its response.
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