No order from SC on TMC plea against central staff deployment in West Bengal poll counting

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to pass any order on a plea filed by All India Trinamool Congress challenging the deployment of only Central government and PSU employees as supervisors during vote counting in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, after the Election Commission assured the court that its circular would be implemented in full.

A special bench of 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 plea against EC counting staff directive on May 2


Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the TMC along with senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, questioned the Election Commission’s move to deploy Central government employees for the counting process.

“EC says it has apprehension of wrongdoing, but where does it come from,” Sibal told the bench, while arguing against the deployment of central staff for vote counting supervision.

Sibal further submitted that the Election Commission’s circular, issued to District Electoral Officers on April 13, came to the petitioner’s knowledge only on April 29.

“EC's circular is dated April 13, but we found out on April 29,” he said.

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The bench, however, observed that the Election Commission’s circular was “not contrary to rules”.

“TMC representative will be there during counting of votes, EC's circular isn't contrary to rules,” the court said during the hearing.

Following assurances from the Election Commission of India that the April 13 circular would be implemented in full — including the deployment of State government employees along with Central government employees during vote counting — the top court declined to issue any further directions.

The court said it would pass no order in the matter “except to reiterate the statement submitted by the ECI’s counsel that the circular in challenge would be implemented”.