Deploy more CAPFs than in 2013: Calcutta High Court to Bengal SEC

The Calcutta high court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal State Election Commission to requisition within 24 hours more central paramilitary forces so that it could deploy a contingent larger than the one used for the 2013 panchayat polls.

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Uday Kumar said the state election commissioner could step down if he was not willing to implement the court's order. The governor can choose the new commissioner, it said.

The bench was unhappy with SEC for requisitioning only 22 companies of paramilitary forces as against 825 companies (82,000 personnel) deployed in 2013. "If it is difficult for the commissioner to take orders, he can step down. The governor may appoint someone else," chief justice Sivagnanam said.


A day earlier, the Supreme Court had dismissed SEC's and state government's challenge of the HC order on CAPF deployment.

"The court shouldn't lose faith in the system and ultimately if people start losing faith in the system; what's the purpose of conducting elections," the bench asked. "We are at a loss to understand what happened to the independence and supremacy of SEC," it said.

The SEC submitted to the HC that it had deployed specialised forces for six sensitive districts. The petitioners mentioned that one company of central force was requisitioned for each of the 22 districts.

Appearing for the Congress, advocate Koustav Bagchi said, "when it is said that the State Election Commissioner should step down, it is really insulting. SEC is trying to make the court order unworkable. If the order is not carried out in 24 hours, it would lead to contempt."

The HC took up two contempt applications, filed by Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan

Kolkata: The Calcutta high court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal State Election Commission to requisition within 24 hours more central paramilitary forces so that it could deploy a contingent larger than the one used for the 2013 panchayat polls.

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Uday Kumar said the state election commissioner could step down if he was not willing to implement the court's order. The governor can choose the new commissioner, it said.

The bench was unhappy with SEC for requisitioning only 22 companies of paramilitary forces as against 825 companies (82,000 personnel) deployed in 2013. "If it is difficult for the commissioner to take orders, he can step down. The governor may appoint someone else," chief justice Sivagnanam said.

A day earlier, the Supreme Court had dismissed SEC's and state government's challenge of the HC order on CAPF deployment.

"The court shouldn't lose faith in the system and ultimately if people start losing faith in the system; what's the purpose of conducting elections," the bench asked. "We are at a loss to understand what happened to the independence and supremacy of SEC," it said.

The SEC submitted to the HC that it had deployed specialised forces for six sensitive districts. The petitioners mentioned that one company of central force was requisitioned for each of the 22 districts.

Appearing for the Congress, advocate Koustav Bagchi said, "when it is said that the State Election Commissioner should step down, it is really insulting. SEC is trying to make the court order unworkable. If the order is not carried out in 24 hours, it would lead to contempt."

The HC took up two contempt applications, filed by Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan