Trinamool Congress accuses Election Commission of violating spirit of Supreme Court order on documents for SIR

Trinamool Congress accuses the Election Commission of violating a Supreme Court order on documentation for special intensive revision hearings.

The Trinamool Congress on Monday (February 16, 2026) accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of violating the spirit of the Supreme Court order by refusing to accept financial assistance sanction letters issued under government housing schemes as valid documentation for special intensive revision (SIR) hearings.

In a social media post, West Bengal’s ruling party highlighted a letter by the ECI’s Under Secretary Shakti Sharma to Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal stating that the financial sanction letters issued schemes such as PMAY-G, IAY, Banglar Bari (Gramin), etc., are not the documents as specified either in the order of the Supreme Court or in the SIR instructions referred to above.

The Supreme Court, in its February 9 order, said that those receiving SIR notices can rely only on the documents mentioned in the Commission’s notification regarding SIR.

The Trinamool Congress said that the ECI’s letter was in violation of the spirit of the Supreme Court order, and relying on technical vagueness.

The party said the Supreme Court had observed that the ECI as a constitutional body “must function in a manner that upholds the trust of the electorate and ensures that every eligible voter is able to exercise their franchise, not create an atmosphere of fear and exclusion”.

The Trinamool Congress also added that the “Commission is constitutionally mandated to protect the people’s vote, not advance the political interests of any party” adding that “they are the Election Commission. not an Election Omission”.