West Bengal Panchayat election: The Calcutta High Court’s directive to station central soldiers in West Bengal during the panchayat elections was maintained by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The State Election Commission (SEC) was also criticised by the top court, which ruled that “holding elections cannot be a licence for violence.” The highest court also ruled that the state electoral commission is in charge of holding free and fair elections.
Supreme Court Dismisses Appeals, Affirms Calcutta High Court’s Decision on Use of Central Troops in Panchayat Elections
The Calcutta High Court’s decision permitting the use of centralised troops during panchayat elections was being challenged in a case before the Supreme Court. The appeals submitted by the West Bengal government and the election board were dismissed by a bench made up of Justices BV Nagarathna and Manoj Misra. “There is no reason to interfere with the high court’s orders. It is possible to use central troops in the state. The high court’s directive to use centralised forces during the panchayat elections is correct, the top court ruled. The bench stated in its order, “The fact remains that the tenor of the High Court’s order is ultimately to ensure that a free and fair election is conducted for the entire State of West Bengal, given that the State is holding local body elections on a single day and taking into account the number of booths which are being set up. We discover that no interference is required by the HC’s order. SLP is hereby discharged.
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Supreme Court Addresses Concerns over Violence
Nine persons have already lost their lives as a result of the numerous violent and arsonous occurrences that have been recorded in the state during the panchayat election nomination process. The top court stated in its remarks that “what the HC may have thought is that instead of requisitioning forces from other neighbouring states, it is better to deploy central forces and expenses would be borne by the Centre.” “We are aware that there would be a campaigning period before we move for polls. The required forces must be requested from the state. A state election commissioner said before the court, “We have requested the deployment of firms. The court responded, “It is the poll body’s job to conduct the election in a fair and free way. How is this order causing the electoral commission distress? The State Election Commission doesn’t care where the forces are coming from, therefore how can the petition be upheld?
Trinamool Congress Affirms Commitment to Free and Fair Elections Amidst Central Forces Controversy
The Trinamool Congress, which is in power, asserted that holding free and fair elections is their top priority and that they will do so by mobilising sufficient forces. On June 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the election board to use central paramilitary personnel in West Bengal’s upcoming Panchayat elections. The Commission was given a 48-hour deadline by the HC on June 15 to request central soldiers for every district in the state. The state legislature and the state election commission jointly appealed this order to the supreme court. The three-tier Panchayati Raj system will hold elections for roughly 75,000 seats on July 8 with the results being tallied on July 11. There are around 61,000 polling places set up.
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