The Supreme Court will hear Today the TMC’s plea challenging the Calcutta High Court order that rejected its petition against the EC’s directive mandating central government and PSU staff for counting votes in the West Bengal Assembly election.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) approached the Supreme Court challenging the exclusion of state government employees from supervisory responsibilities during vote counting.
The party argues that this decision may affect the efficiency and fairness of the electoral process.
A special bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi is expected to hear the case.
In its petition, TMC contests the Election Commission’s directive requiring the deployment of central government officials or Central PSU employees as counting supervisors or assistants at counting tables.
READ ALSO: TMC Leaders in Trouble: Court Orders Bail Bond in ECI Protest Case
The party maintains that state government officials have historically been involved in election management and have the administrative expertise required to perform counting-related duties effectively.
It further argues that sidelining them without sufficient justification could lead to operational challenges during the counting process.
The petition comes after the Calcutta High Court upheld the Election Commission’s decision, noting that the poll body has the authority to determine the appointment of personnel for election duties.
Ahead of the counting process, TMC has urged the apex court to grant urgent relief by allowing eligible state government employees to be assigned supervisory roles to support smooth and transparent vote counting.
The High Court informed TMC that choosing central or state officials as counting supervisors is within the Election Commission’s discretion. It also noted that if central officers are later found to have manipulated the counting process or favored the BJP, TMC can seek remedy by filing an election petition.
Earlier, the court had asked the Election Commission to explain why appointments were being limited to central officers alone. In response, the EC said that the same approach has been followed in Kerala.