SIR deletion of parent's name cannot affect EWS claim: Calcutta HC

PTI, August 18, 2026, Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has directed authorities not to consider the deletion of a NEET-UG candidate's mother's name from the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) while deciding his application for an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate.

Justice Krishna Rao passed the order on a petition by Priyangshu Mukherjee, who needs the certificate to participate in MBBS counselling.

His document verification is scheduled for August 18.

Mukherjee scored 471 out of 720 in NEET-UG 2026, securing an All India Rank of 1,32,304 and a Gen-EWS rank of 16,401.

The court was told that his father, Prasanta Mukherjee, died in 2008 and his name appeared in the 2002 electoral roll.

His mother was known as Kakali Mukherjee before marriage and later changed her name to Rekah Mukherjee.

Her name was deleted from the voter list during SIR following a discrepancy in her name.

The petitioner's own name remains on the electoral roll, and he had voted in the April 2026 Assembly election.

With no decision on his EWS application despite repeated representations, the court directed the Additional District Magistrate, North 24-Parganas, to consider it immediately.

If eligible, the certificate was to be issued; otherwise, reasons had to be recorded.

The court specifically directed that the mother's deletion from the voter list must not be taken into account.

The matter will be heard next on September 16.