Supreme Court rules West Bengal voters removed in SIR still eligible for welfare benefits

The Indian Supreme Court held that individuals whose names were deleted from West Bengal's electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise retain entitlement to certain welfare programmes, including subsidised food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the state’s Annapurna Yojana scheme. Chief Justice Surya Kant directed petitioner Mohibulla Mondal to seek relief from the Calcutta High Court and urged the appellate tribunal to decide his appeal within two months.

The court noted that exclusion from the rolls does not automatically strip benefits, stating, “You are entitled to certain benefits. Go through jurisdictional High Courts, they will grant it.” West Bengal’s June order had linked ration card activation to a person’s status after the SIR, potentially affecting up to 60 lakh cards. The Supreme Court’s observation ensures that those who have filed appeals or applications under the Citizenship Amendment Act continue to receive benefits while their cases are pending.