Overview The Election Commission of India (ECI) released a supplementary list on 27 March 2026 that corrected the earlier omission of former Calcutta High Court judge Sahidullah Munshi and his family from the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision (SIR) roll. The correction follows Munshi’s grievance that, despite completing the scrutiny process and submitting required documents, his name was missing from the initial list dated 28 February 2026. Key Developments Initial SIR list (28 Feb 2026) omitted Justice Munshi and his family. Munshi raised the issue, citing completion of the verification process. Supplementary list (27 Mar 2026) added their names, amending the earlier roll. The Supreme Court earlier directed the formation of Appellate Tribunals comprising former High Court Chief Justices and Judges to ensure an independent appellate mechanism. Important Facts Justice Munshi was appointed to the Calcutta High Court in 2013, served for seven years, and retired in September 2020 . He presently chairs the Board of Auqaf in West Bengal. UPSC Relevance The episode illustrates several themes frequently examined in the UPSC syllabus: Electoral integrity and voter‑list management – Understanding the SIR process helps answer questions on measures to ensure free and fair elections (GS2). Judicial oversight of electoral administration – The Supreme Court’s intervention to set up independent appellate tribunals reflects the checks‑and‑balances between the judiciary and the Election Commission (GS2). Role of former judges in quasi‑judicial bodies – Appointment of ex‑judges to tribunals and statutory boards demonstrates the utilisation of legal expertise in governance (GS2, GS4). Way Forward To strengthen the SIR mechanism, the following steps could be considered: Institutionalise a transparent, time‑bound grievance redressal system within the ECI for omitted or wrongly excluded voters. Ensure that appellate tribunals are fully staffed with former senior judges and that their decisions are binding and promptly communicated. Leverage technology (e.g., Aadhaar‑linked verification) while safeguarding privacy, to minimise human errors in voter‑list compilation. These measures would enhance public confidence in the electoral process, a cornerstone of India’s democratic framework.