No order from SC on TMC plea against central staff deployment in West Bengal poll counting
A special bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing the plea filed by the Trinamool Congress against an earlier Calcutta High Court order rejecting its challenge to the Election Commission’s directive.
Also Read: SC to hear TMC’s plea against EC counting staff directive on May 2
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on the TMC along with senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, questioned the Election Commission’s move to deploy Central government employees for the counting process.
Sibal, while opposing the deployment of central personnel to monitor vote counting, told the bench, “EC says there is apprehension of wrongdoing, but where does this come from?”
Sibal also stated that the Election Commission circular sent to the District Election Officers on April 13 only reached the applicant’s information on April 29.
“The EC’s circular is dated April 13, but we learned about it on April 29,” he said.Also Read: West Bengal: Voting begins in 15 stands comprising two assembly seats after reaffirmation of EC orders
However, the board stated that the Election Commission’s circular “is not against the rules”.
The court panel said at the hearing that “the TMK representative will be there during the vote counting, and the EC circular is not against the rules.”
After the Election Commission of India assured that the April 13 circular would be fully implemented, including deputation of Central as well as State government employees during the counting of votes, the apex court refused to issue further directions.
The court said it would not pass any order on the matter “except to reiterate the statement of the ECI counsel that the impugned circular will be implemented”.
