Stop hearings, lodge FIRs in case of violence: EC to officials
Times of India | 24 January 2026
Kolkata: EC has asked DMs and DEOs to adjourn Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings sine die and lodge FIRs "immediately" in case violence at venues where hearings are underway, adding that delay in lodging FIRs would draw "adverse inference".
The direction was issued on Jan 22. Bengal chief electoral officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal has asked officials to follow the EC's directive in compliance with the Jan 19 Supreme Court order.
"In case of any law and order situation at hearing venues or in any govt office in connection with SIR or destruction of public property or any threat or attack at any official, DEOs should take steps for immediate filing of complaints/FIRs with the local police station with a copy mailed to the SP and the CEO," the EC said in its directive.
On Jan 21, EC had directed the Bengal chief secretary, the DGP and the Kolkata Police commissioner and SPs and collectors of all districts to ensure there were no law-and-order problems at hearing venues.
The instructions come at a time when several incidents of violence have been reported in SIR hearing venues across Bengal.
A hearing centre was ransacked and an AERO was assaulted at Itahar in North Dinajpur on Thursday.
On Jan 14, a BDO's office was vandalised in Farakka after those called to the hearing alleged they were being harassed. Five people have been arrested for involvement in the incident so far.