Calcutta High Court cancels judicial officers’ leaves to assist SIR

The Kolkata High Court on Saturday, February 21, 2026, ordered the cancellation of leaves of all judicial officers in West Bengal till March 9 and directed those currently on leave to attend their respective courts and offices by Monday to ensure compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court for completion of special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State.

A notification issued by the registrar general of the Supreme Court said that all leaves previously granted to any judicial officer, except in cases of medical emergency, have been canceled till March 9 and those already on leave have been directed to report to their respective courts and offices by February 23.

The decision will apply to judicial officers appointed as district and session judges/chief judges and additional district and session judges as well as those appointed as benches.

In addition, judicial officers working in special/CBI courts, commercial courts, special courts for hearing criminal cases against MPs and MLAs, POCSO courts, City Civil Court and City Magistrate Court of the city and fast track courts have also refrained from taking any leave during this period except in case of medical emergencies, the notification said.

In addition, it was stated that all judicial officers in the said ranks, who are under the transfer order and meanwhile fulfill the responsibilities of the courts and their authorities, will be deemed to be dismissed from their current duties, effective from February 23, and will start their new duties by February 24, without benefiting from the transition permit.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul also held a meeting with various senior officials of the Union and State governments on Saturday, February 21, 2026, as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

Appalled by the ongoing tussle between the state government and the Election Commission, the Supreme Court on Friday, February 20, 2026, issued an “extraordinary” order directing the appointment of sitting and former district judges to assist the poll panel in the controversy-ridden SIR process in West Bengal.

The upper court decided to assign judicial officers to decide on the claims and objections of those who are on the ‘logical inconsistency’ lists and who face deletion of their names from the voter registers.