In a recent development, the Calcutta High Court has mandated the sustained presence of central paramilitary forces in West Bengal for a period of 10 days following the announcement of the upcoming panchayat elections’ results. This decision, handed down by a division bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Uday Kumar, is rooted in the legitimate concerns raised by petitioners regarding potential post-election violence, a recurring issue witnessed in 2018 and 2021.
The court’s statement underscored the gravity of the situation, stating,
“There is an apprehension of post poll violence, which cannot be brushed aside, given the past experience. We are only concerned with prote protecting the public at large and if such violence occurs action of the public at large and if such violence takes place, it will affect the public. There are chances of post poll violence as winning candidates might celebrate etc. Therefore, let the Central forces be deployed for 10 more days after the declaration of results.”
During the court proceedings, the State Election Commission (SEC) expressed its inability to extend the deployment of forces beyond July 12, the date set for the declaration of the election results. Senior advocate Kishore Datta, representing the SEC, clarified, “Our jurisdiction would end after the day when results would be declared.
“Therefore, we can order deployment only till July 12. After that either the court can order it, or the nodal officer of the Central government can take such a decision.”
In light of these arguments, the bench ruled in favor of maintaining the deployment of central forces, thereby ensuring the safety and security of the public during the post-election period. This decision underscores the court’s commitment to preventing any potential outbreak of violence and maintaining law and order in the region.