CJI praises record voter turnout in Bengal:SC says officials dropped from SIR rolls may not vote this time

The Supreme Court of India on Friday lauded the high voter turnout and largely peaceful conduct of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, calling it a boost to the democratic process. A bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipin Pancholi, expressed satisfaction over the absence of widespread electoral violence. “As a citizen of India, I am very happy to see the voting percentage. When people exercise their right to vote, it strengthens the democratic system,” the CJI observed. Petitions on voter list deletions The court was hearing petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. It reiterated that it had earlier refused to stay the SIR process ahead of the elections. On grievances related to deletion of names, the bench directed affected individuals to approach the 19 appellate tribunals constituted for redressal. It also instructed these tribunals to prioritise urgent pleas, especially those seeking restoration of names ahead of upcoming polling phases. No relief for election duty officers The court declined to hear petitions filed by several individuals, including around 65 election duty officers, whose names were allegedly removed from the rolls. Appearing for the petitioners, advocate MR Shamshad argued that the deletions were arbitrary and carried out without reasons, despite valid EPIC details being available. In response, Justice Bagchi noted that while such individuals may not be able to vote in the ongoing election, their right to have their names restored would remain protected. Courtroom observations During the hearing, advocate Kalyan Banerjee pointed out that out of nearly 27 lakh appeals filed against the SIR exercise, only 136 had been disposed of, terming the situation concerning. He also highlighted that voter turnout had reached around 92%, with migrant workers returning to cast their votes, and no major incidents of violence reported. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described the turnout as “historic” and agreed that polling had been largely peaceful, barring a few incidents. Justice Bagchi remarked that while conflicts often affect common people the most, the peaceful nature of these elections had drawn appreciation. Reasons behind high voter turnout Several factors have been cited for the surge in voter participation: SIR Exercise: Over 90 lakh names were removed from the electoral rolls, reducing the voter base but not the number of people casting votes, thereby increasing turnout percentage. Anti-incumbency: The Trinamool Congress government’s 15-year rule, along with issues like unemployment and corruption, may have driven higher participation. Migrant voters: A large number of migrant workers returned to the state specifically to vote, viewing the election as crucial. Strict monitoring: Heavy deployment of around 2.40 lakh central forces and close monitoring by the Election Commission ensured fear-free voting. Voter turnout data Polling in the first phase recorded exceptionally high participation, with women voters outnumbering men. Female turnout stood at 92.69%, while male turnout was 90.92%. Turnout among third-gender voters was recorded at 56.79%. ​