The Election Commission on Friday said in an application filed in the Supreme Court that ECI officials and ground-level workers were being made to "fear
for the lives whilst discharging their democratic obligation" in carrying out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The EC remarks were made in an application seeking modification in the Supreme Court's January 19 order, directing hearings to be held in Panchayat bhawans. The application has been filed in relation to the petition filed in the Supreme Court by TMC leader Dola Sen, challenging the SIR in West Bengal. Expressing its concerns further, the EC said that the incidents "depict the grave on-ground reality in the State of West Bengal". The application was filed through ECI's standing counsel in Supreme Court Eklavya Dwivedi. The Commission noted that the Panchayats bhawans are not safe and vulnerable to violent attacks. The ECI demanded safer venues for conducting hearings. "Enable conduct of hearings at administratively appropriate and secure locations, such as Block Offices, and to ensure that the Special Intensive Revision process is completed smoothly without compromising the safety of officials or the statutory requirement of quasi-judicial adjudication," said the Election Commission. Significantly, ECI affidavit points to incidents of violence against its officials and BLOs in Itahar, Farakka, Chakulia Panchayat bhawans. The content of this latest affidavit is significant as it comes close on the heels of another affidavit filed by the poll body slamming West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for provocative speeches, fear mongering, spreading misleading information and which said that unlike other states, there is too much intimidation, obstruction, atmosphere of fear in the state of West Bengal. The ECI's modification plea said: "The incidents depict the grave on-ground reality in the State of West Bengal, where ECI officials and ground-level workers are being made to fear for the lives whilst discharging their democratic obligation." "Allow the present Application and modify Order dated 19.01.2025 passed in W.P.(c) No. 1074/2025 to the extent it contains directions to conduct hearings at Panchayat Bhavans," it said. ECI goes on to say: "Incidents have surfaced indicating that the law and order situation at the Panchayat Bhavan level is not conducive to conduct hearings as per the notices issued to electors." The EC further contended: "That vide letter dated 22.01.2026, the Block Development Officer, ltahar, filed a complaint with the ltahar Police Station informing that on 22.02.2026, a group of unruly individuals breached the SIR hearing venue located at ltahar High School and ransacked the place, causing wide-spread damage to property and official documents. "That graver incidents have taken place at Farakka and Chakulia, where crowds of over 1000 unruly individuals vandalized the property at the BOO Office. In Farakka, the Micro Observers were brutally attacked. Two Micro Observers sustained serious physical injuries. Shockingly, no police personnel was present at the site, nor was there any security cover or administrative support provided. The Micro Observers were made to fear for their lives, and ultimately, compelled to withdraw from their duties."
