“Justice Is Crying Behind Closed Doors”: Mamata Banerjee Speaks in Supreme Court on Voter List Revision

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday personally appeared before the Supreme Court and made an emotional appeal against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, urging the court to “protect the rights of the people.”

As the Bench headed by the Chief Justice took up the matter, notices were issued in both petitions linked to the voter list revision. During the hearing, the Solicitor General informed the court that another connected case was already pending in which the Election Commission of India (ECI) had filed an affidavit. Accepting the submission, the Chief Justice directed that all related matters be taken up together on Monday, stating that the court would hear the entire issue comprehensively.

Addressing the court directly, Mamata Banerjee expressed gratitude to the Bench and spoke with visible concern.
“I belong to this State, and I am grateful for the kindness of this Bench,” she said, adding, “When justice is crying behind closed doors, it gives the feeling that justice is not being received anywhere.”

The Chief Minister told the court that she had written six letters to the Election Commission, seeking clarity and intervention. Striking an emotional note, she said, “I am like a bonded labourer. I am not fighting for my political party. I am fighting for a larger cause.”

Banerjee alleged that the democratic process in West Bengal was being undermined. She claimed that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have been stripped of their authority, while over 8,300 micro observers from BJP-ruled states have been deployed instead.

“Names are being deleted while sitting inside offices, without physical verification,” she alleged.

She further told the court that Form 6 applications were not being accepted, leading to the deletion of lakhs of voters from the rolls.

“Several living persons have been declared dead,” Banerjee said, describing the situation as “anti-women” and deeply discriminatory.

Responding to the concerns, the Chief Justice observed that a “practical solution can be worked out.” The court directed the West Bengal government to submit, by Monday, a list of Group B officers who can be spared and made available to assist in the process.