West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : The much awaited final voter list under the SIR verification system is scheduled to be released tomorrow, creating anticipation over how thousands of names will be categorised in the electoral database. The process is being carried out under the supervision of the Election Commission of India following directives from the Supreme Court of India, which has emphasised that the verification exercise must continue without unnecessary administrative delays.

The SIR mechanism has been introduced to resolve logical discrepancies in voter records by allowing judicial officers to verify documents carefully. Authorities have stated that many names were earlier marked under scrutiny because of incomplete documentation or mismatched identity information. As part of the process, civil judges are being brought from neighbouring states such as Jharkhand and Odisha to address manpower shortages in judicial verification work. These officers will assist in document authentication and help complete the SIR review process efficiently.

The electoral database contained around 7.66 crore voter names. After removing approximately 58 lakh entries, the updated voter strength has been recorded at around 7.08 crore. According to election officials, the final list being published on Saturday will include these 7.08 crore verified names, though the verification process will not stop after publication. Verification and inclusion activities will continue until the last date of candidate nomination submission.

Authorities have clarified the classification system that will appear alongside voter names in the list. Individuals whose documents have been successfully verified will have the tag “Approved” printed beside their names. Those whose records are found invalid or removed during verification will be marked as “Deleted”. Meanwhile, approximately 60 lakh entries are still under examination by judicial officers and will carry the status “Under Adjudication” until final verification is completed. A supplementary list will also be added for newly registered voters joining the electoral roll.

Political reactions have also emerged regarding the process. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier raised objections regarding certain administrative procedures, including the rejection of domicile certificates issued by SDO offices and training concerns related to judicial verification officers. She had approached the apex court challenging certain aspects of the verification mechanism.

The bench headed by Surya Kant, a judge of the Supreme Court, reiterated that the previous judicial order remains clear and must be followed. The court emphasised that the SIR verification process should not be obstructed through minor administrative objections. Judicial officers have been instructed to carry out their duties independently and professionally without external pressure.

Election authorities have stated that the objective of the exercise is to ensure a clean, accurate and transparent voter registry. With the final list publication, the electoral system aims to balance inclusion and verification integrity, while allowing continued updates until the nomination deadline. The upcoming release is expected to be closely watched by political observers and citizens alike.