SC assures judicial officers would remain ‘uninfluenced’ as Trinamool raises fears about EC ‘training’ module

Supreme Court assures impartiality of judicial officers despite Trinamool's concerns over Election Commission training in West Bengal voter verification.

The Supreme Court on Friday (February 27, 2026) assured that judicial officers deployed for verification of claims and objections filed by voters excluded from the electoral roll during the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision would remain objective and accept documents of proof of citizenship and identity listed in successive top court orders.

The court dismissed the ruling All India Trinamool Congress government’s apprehension that the Election Commission was trying to “influence” judicial officers by giving them “training”.

In an oral mentioning made before a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the ruling party, said the poll body’s training module may breach the orders of the Supreme Court itself. Mr. Sibal submitted that the module may even include instructions not to receive verification documents approved by the Supreme Court.

“We went beyond our own imagination in this case… There has to be an end to all this. We know our judicial officers. They will not be influenced by anything. A person argues a case before the judiciary, the opposite party counters the arguments, and ultimately we take the decision impartially,” Chief Justice Kant observed, explaining the impartiality of justice administration from the Bench.

Mr. Sibal said judicial officers cannot take instructions from the Election Commission.

“The EC cannot tell judicial officers ‘don’t take that or this certificate’. They are not bound by such instructions,” the senior advocate submitted.