The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) over staffing for the vote-counting process in the West Bengal Assembly election.
TMC had sought a direction to deploy state government employees for counting duties, objecting to an Election Commission circular dated April 13 that proposed using Central government and public sector employees as supervisors.
The party’s challenge had earlier been rejected by the Calcutta High Court, which held that the Election Commission is empowered to appoint personnel for counting. TMC then moved the Supreme Court in an urgent hearing before a special bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for TMC, argued that the party learnt of the April 13 circular only on April 29 and questioned the need for additional Central staff when a Central official is already present as a micro-observer at each counting table.
The bench noted that the rules permit appointment of either Central or state officials and said the court could not treat the Election Commission’s circular as contrary to the rules. With the Election Commission assuring that state government staff would also be present and that candidates would have counting agents, the court said no further directions were required and dismissed the plea.
