Supreme Court hears TMC petition challenging Calcutta High Court order upholding central personnel deployment at vote counting centres for May 4 exercise.
The Supreme Court of India. (File)
The Supreme Court on Saturday began hearing a petition filed by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) challenging a Calcutta High Court order that upheld the deployment of central government staff at vote-counting centres in West Bengal for the upcoming May 4 exercise.
The matter is being heard by a bench of Justices J Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi.
The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, has opposed the appointment of central government and public sector undertaking (PSU) employees as counting supervisors and assistants, arguing that the move sidelines state government officials and raises concerns about fairness.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the TMC, outlined four key objections before the apex court. He argued that a notice regarding the deployment was issued to District Election Officers (DEOs) on April 13, but the party became aware of it only on April 29, limiting its ability to respond in time.
Sibal further questioned the basis of the authorities’ apprehension that disturbances could occur at counting booths. “The second point is that they have an apprehension. That there is going to be trouble in every booth. Where do they get their operation from? This is shocking,” he told the court.
Raising a third concern, Sibal pointed out that central government officials are already present at each counting table as micro-observers. “Now why do they want another Central Government officer?” he asked.
Finally, he argued that the Election Commission’s own circular provides for the inclusion of state government officials in the counting process, but alleged that such appointments have not been made. “…The circular itself says that you also should have a state government officer but they don’t appoint a state government nominee,” Sibal submitted.
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