India, June 23 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to grant an urgent hearing on a plea challenging West Bengal government orders that allegedly link welfare benefits to exclusions from electoral rolls following the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise, asking the petitioner instead to approach the Calcutta High Court.

A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the challenge raised an independent cause of action concerning eligibility for welfare schemes and public distribution benefits, making the high court the appropriate forum to consider the matter in the first instance.

The plea was mentioned by advocate Prasanna S on behalf of Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, an agricultural workers' union, whi...