West Bengal Chief Minister Makes Unprecedented Direct Intervention in Supreme Court SIR Case

In a remarkable display of legal and political assertiveness, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a law graduate, personally appeared before the Supreme Court to challenge the implementation of Special Investment Regions (SIR) in her state. This intervention marks a historic moment, as Banerjee is believed to be the first sitting Chief Minister to argue in person before the apex court. The case centers on alleged irregularities in the SIR framework within West Bengal, with the state's counsel, Shyam Divan, presenting arguments for approximately twenty minutes before Banerjee's direct engagement. Observers noted her declaration to Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, 'bolbo toh aaji (I will speak today),' signaling her intent to address the bench directly. This move underscores the escalating tensions between state governance and central investment policies, highlighting Banerjee's strategic use of legal avenues to assert regional autonomy. The development is poised to set a precedent for state-level challenges to national economic initiatives, reflecting broader political dynamics in India's federal structure. Analysts view this as a calculated maneuver to reinforce her administration's opposition to perceived overreach, potentially influencing future judicial and policy landscapes.