The clarification came after the Delhi Police registered an FIR over the alleged illegal circulation of the manuscript in digital and other formats. The Prime Minister had come under increasing pressure on Monday (February 9, 2026) as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for him to step down following the resignation, earlier on Monday (February 9, 2026), of Mr. Starmer’s communications head, Tim Allan. The Supreme Court said micro observers appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) cannot take decisions and directed the West Bengal government to make Group B officers available for the SIR. “The Hon’ble Supreme Court has delivered a stinging rebuke to @ECISVEEP’s arbitrary overreach. In unequivocal terms, the Court has ordered that micro-observers can only assist EROs/AEROs and that final authority rests solely with EROs.

Source: The Hindu February 10, 2026 05:41 UTC