‘Now the door has opened…’ Mamata Banerjee ends protest after Supreme Court order regarding Bengal SIR

SIR Process Controversy: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ended her strike on Tuesday. This protest which was going on for the last five days was ended after the order of the Supreme Court. Mamata Banerjee welcomed the Supreme Court order and said that the protests are being temporarily postponed after the Supreme Court ordered to set up an appellate tribunal regarding the voter list amendment.

CM Mamta further said that the path which was earlier closed by the Election Commission has now been opened. This has given hope to those whose names were removed from the voter list under SIR on the grounds of ‘logical discrepancy’ or whose names are still under review.

What is the order of the Supreme Court?

In fact, the Supreme Court has ordered to set up an independent appellate tribunal to hear the appeals of people whose names were removed from the voter list during the Special In-depth Trial (SIR) in West Bengal, due to which this tribunal will be headed by a former judge of the High Courts. Also, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission that no new mandatory step in the SIR process should be implemented without the approval of the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court.

What did Mamata Banerjee say?

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called off the strike ‘temporarily’ Announcing the termination, she said that Trinamool Congress will keep an eye on the situation going forward. Banerjee said that the Supreme Court order is a victory for the people of Bengal.

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What did the Election Commission say?

On Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that the name of any eligible voter will not be removed from the voter list. He said that it is the priority of the Commission to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections in West Bengal. The purpose of Special Intensive Revision is to ensure that all eligible voters get the right to vote and no ineligible person is included in the voter list.