CJI Declines Early Hearing on Bengal SIR Plea Before Bypolls

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to advance its hearing on Bengal's Special Intensive Revision case, with Chief Justice Surya Kant saying "these are only by-elections." The matter stays listed for October 5, a day before polling in Nandigram and Rejinagar, where counsel said over 18,000 appeals remain unresolved. The ECI reported 37.05 lakh appeals pending as of September 16.