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No option left: Supreme Court issues extraordinary order in Bengal SIR case

The Supreme Court issued an extraordinary order in the Bengal SIR case, asking the Calcutta High Court to appoint judicial officers to resolve disputes between the state and the Election Commission.

Published

2 months ago

on

Supreme Court

In a significant intervention in the ongoing dispute over the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter rolls in West Bengal, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Calcutta High Court to appoint judicial officers to assist in the process.

The top court said the move was necessary due to an “unfortunate scenario of allegations and counter allegations” between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission, which has led to a trust deficit between the two constitutional authorities.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that the process had stalled at the stage of examining claims and objections from individuals whose names were included in the discrepancy list. He noted that the court was compelled to pass an “extraordinary order” owing to “extraordinary circumstances”.

The judicial officers appointed by the high court will examine claims and objections related to the voter roll clean-up drive. The Supreme Court asked the Calcutta High Court to spare serving as well as former judicial officers in the rank of additional district judge or district judge to assist in each district.

Meeting of top officials ordered

To work out the operational details, the Supreme Court directed the State Election Commissioner, the chief secretary, the police chief and other senior officials to hold a meeting with the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.

The court highlighted that the state is obligated to provide Group A officers to perform duties of Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs). It pointed to a dispute over the rank and competence of officials deployed to function as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs).

“It is nearly impossible for this court to determine the status and rank of officials now deployed by the ECI given by the state,” the bench observed.

Expressing dissatisfaction, the court said it was left with “hardly any other option” but to request the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to deploy judicial officers to ensure fairness in adjudicating the genuineness of documents and decisions regarding inclusion or exclusion from the voter list.

Strong remarks from the bench

The Supreme Court made strong remarks over what it described as a lack of cooperation.

“A situation is being created where judicial officers have to intervene. We were expecting cooperation by the state. Is this the level of communication from the state?” Chief Justice Kant said, expressing disappointment over delayed responses to earlier orders.

Sharp exchanges were reported between senior lawyers representing the West Bengal government and the Election Commission. While the state argued that sufficient Group B officers had been provided, the Election Commission maintained that competent Group A officers capable of discharging quasi-judicial functions were not made available.

“You are not providing competent Group A officers. How can incompetent officials decide the fate of the people?” the court remarked, adding that there appeared to be hesitancy on both ends.

The bench stressed that cooperation from all stakeholders was essential and cautioned the state government to create an enabling environment for the judicial officers nominated by the high court.

“Please cooperate with the high court. Please create an environment for them to function. Imagine what will happen if the SIR process is not completed,” the court said.

Political backdrop

The SIR exercise has triggered a political row in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the Election Commission of targeting the state and misusing the voter roll revision to exclude genuine voters.

Earlier this month, she met top Election Commission officials in New Delhi and warned that she could mobilise large numbers of people to protest before the poll body.

Banerjee has also questioned why a similar SIR exercise was not conducted in BJP-ruled Assam and alleged that West Bengal and Kerala were being unfairly targeted.

With the Bengal assembly election approaching and major parties stepping up campaigning, the voter roll revision has become a central political flashpoint.

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India News

Nirmala Sitharaman reviews AI cybersecurity risks in banking, calls for stronger safeguards

Sitharaman urges banks to boost cybersecurity and adopt real-time intelligence sharing to counter AI threats.

Published

3 hours ago

on

April 24, 2026

By

Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a high-level meeting with bank heads and key stakeholders to assess cybersecurity risks linked to artificial intelligence (AI) in the banking sector.

The meeting comes amid global concerns over advanced AI models that could potentially expose vulnerabilities in financial systems. Authorities discussed how such technologies may be misused to exploit software weaknesses and compromise sensitive banking data.

Banks asked to strengthen cybersecurity frameworks

During the discussions, banks were advised to take pre-emptive measures to secure IT systems, protect customer data, and safeguard financial assets.

The government emphasised the need for robust cybersecurity infrastructure, including stronger monitoring systems and improved incident response protocols. Banks were also encouraged to enhance internal preparedness against evolving digital threats driven by AI technologies.

Focus on real-time threat intelligence sharing

A key takeaway from the meeting was the push to establish a real-time threat intelligence sharing mechanism between banks, regulatory bodies, and cybersecurity agencies such as CERT-In.

This system is expected to help identify emerging risks early and enable faster response across the financial ecosystem, reducing the chances of large-scale disruptions.

Concerns linked to advanced AI models

The review gains significance in light of concerns around advanced AI systems, including models that reportedly highlight vulnerabilities in widely used software environments.

Officials noted that while AI offers significant benefits, it also introduces new challenges, particularly in cybersecurity, requiring coordinated action across institutions.

Government adopts proactive approach

The meeting reflects the government’s broader strategy to stay ahead of technological risks while promoting digital growth.

With increasing adoption of AI in financial services, authorities are focusing on ensuring that innovation is matched with strong safeguards to maintain trust and stability in the banking system.

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India News

Turnout crosses 80% in Bengal and Tamil Nadu till 5 PM in key elections

Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu elections witness strong voter turnout, crossing 80% with largely peaceful polling.

Published

17 hours ago

on

April 23, 2026

By

Voter Turnout

Polling for the 2026 Assembly elections is underway in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, with voters turning out in large numbers across key constituencies.

In West Bengal, voting is being held across 152 constituencies, with around 3.6 crore voters expected to participate in this phase. Security arrangements were tightened, and long queues of voters were seen at polling stations from early morning.

Turnout rises steadily through the day

Voter participation increased consistently as polling progressed. By afternoon, turnout had crossed the halfway mark in both states, indicating steady engagement.

As per latest updates till 5 PM, West Bengal recorded 89.92% turnout, while Tamil Nadu reported 82.24% voter participation.

Large electorate participates in phase 1

In West Bengal, nearly 3.6 crore eligible voters took part in the first phase across several districts, including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri.

Tamil Nadu is witnessing a three-way contest between the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-BJP alliance, and actor Vijay’s entry into the political space.

Sporadic incidents reported

Polling has been largely peaceful, though isolated incidents were reported, including an attack on BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul’s car and a boycott reported in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Despite these disruptions, voting continued without major interruptions, and authorities maintained overall control.

High-stakes political contest

The elections are being closely watched as major political parties compete for power. West Bengal is witnessing a closely fought contest, while in Tamil Nadu, key regional rivals are battling for control of the state Assembly.

The outcome is expected to play an important role in shaping the political landscape of both states.

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Education

UP Board result 2026 declared: Class 10 pass rate at 90.42%, class 12 at 80.38%

UP Board 2026 results are out with strong pass rates. Here’s how to check your score and key highlights.

Published

18 hours ago

on

April 23, 2026

By

Result

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad has declared the UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 results for 2026 on April 23 at 4 pm.

This year, more than 52 lakh students registered for the exams, including over 27 lakh candidates in Class 10 and nearly 25 lakh in Class 12. The examinations were conducted between February 18 and March 12 across around 8,000 centres in the state.

Pass percentage and performance trends

The overall performance remains strong:

  • Class 10 pass percentage: 90.42%
  • Class 12 pass percentage: 80.38%

Girls have once again outperformed boys in both classes, continuing the trend seen in previous years.

How to check UP Board result 2026

Students can access their results through official platforms by following these steps:

  • Visit the official website: upmsp.edu.in or upresults.nic.in
  • Click on the result link for Class 10 or Class 12
  • Enter roll number and required details
  • View and download the provisional marksheet

Alternatively, results are also available via DigiLocker and other digital platforms.

What students should do after results

Students are advised to:

  • Download and print the provisional marksheet immediately
  • Collect the original marksheet from their respective schools later
  • Apply for re-evaluation or compartment exams if required

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