Calcutta High Court cancels judicial officers’ leaves to assist SIR

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

All leave, except under medical emergency, granted earlier to any judicial officer, stands cancelled till March 9, and those already on leave were directed to join their respective courts and offices by February 23, a notification issued by the High Court’s registrar-general said.

The order will be applicable to judicial officers posted as district and sessions judges/chief judges and additional district and sessions judges, as well as those posted on deputation.

The notification said that, in addition to this, the judicial officers posted in special/CBI courts, commercial courts, special courts for the trial of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs, POCSO courts, the City Civil Court and City Sessions Court of the city, and fast-track courts are also refrained from taking any leave during this period except under medical emergencies.

It further said that all the judicial officers of the said ranks, who are under order of transfer and have accordingly delivered charge of their court and office in the meantime, will be deemed to be released from present posting with effect from February 23 and will join their respective new assignments by February 24, without availing transit leave.

The High Court Chief Justice, Sujoy Paul, also held a meeting with various top officials of the Union and State governments on Saturday (February 21, 2026) as per the direction of the Supreme Court.

Dismayed over the ongoing tussle between the State government and the Election Commission, the Supreme Court on Friday (February 20, 2026) issued an “extraordinary” direction to deploy serving and former district judges to assist the poll panel in the controversy-ridden SIR process in West Bengal.

The top court ordered deputation of judicial officers for adjudication of claims and objections of those who are put under the ‘logical discrepancy’ lists and facing removal of their names from the electoral rolls.