Mamata Banerjee to Challenge Voter List Review in Court Over Allegations of Inhuman Treatment

Mamata Banerjee's Legal Action Against Voter List Review

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, announced on Monday her intention to approach the court regarding the alleged 'inhuman' conduct observed during the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the voter list in the state.

Speaking at a public gathering in the Sagar Islands of South 24 Parganas district, she claimed that the fears, harassment, and administrative arbitrariness linked to this process have resulted in numerous fatalities and hospitalizations.

Banerjee stated, 'We will file a petition in court tomorrow against the inhuman behavior and the significant number of deaths caused by the SIR.' She added, 'If permitted, I will also file a petition in the Supreme Court as a common citizen to raise my voice against this inhumane process. I am a trained lawyer as well.'

She accused the authorities of arbitrarily removing names from the voter list without valid reasons, transforming what should be a standard administrative procedure into a fear-inducing process ahead of the assembly elections. Banerjee asserted that individuals suffering from serious illnesses and elderly citizens are being forced to stand in long queues to prove their status as legitimate voters.

The Chief Minister questioned, 'How would it feel if elderly parents of BJP leaders were made to stand in line to prove their identity? Since the SIR commenced, many have died out of fear, and several others have been hospitalized.'