Rush Hour: SC extends timeline for objections in Bengal SIR, Opposition walks out of RS & more

The Supreme Court has directed that the deadline for scrutinising documents and objections as part of the special intensive revision process in West Bengal be extended for at least a week after February 14. A two-judge bench also ordered the state director general of police to respond to the Election Commission’s allegations that the exercise was marred by violence and intimidation.

“We will not allow any impediment in conduct of SIR,” Chief Justice Surya Kant said. “This must be clear to all states.”

The court also told the state’s Trinamool Congress government to ensure that all 8,550 Group B officers, whose list was submitted to the court on Monday, report to the electoral registration officer on Tuesday. It also said that micro-observers who were appointed by the Election Commission from other states, will only assist the electoral registration officers and “are not the decision-making authority”. Read more.

Opposition parties staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha after an uproar over the proceedings of the Lok Sabha, where they alleged that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to finish his speech. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge raised the matter when the Question Hour started at noon.

CP Radhakrishnan, the chairperson of the Upper House, told Kharge that...

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