Supreme Court to hear plea challenging central forces deployment in West Bengal Panchayat polls

Shillong, June 19: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a joint plea filed by the ruling Trinamool Congress and the State Election Commission (SEC) regarding the deployment of central forces during the panchayat polls in West Bengal. This decision comes after the Calcutta High Court directed the poll body to deploy central paramilitary forces for the upcoming Panchayat elections in the state.

The plea was presented before the bench by senior advocate Monika Arora. The bench responded by stating, “The high court can direct deployment of central forces. You seek time from the high court.” In response, the advocate requested, “We have approached against the order of June 13 and please take it tomorrow.”

According to sources, the poll body and the state government approached the apex court after holding a meeting with the state’s legal advisors. The Calcutta High Court had previously instructed the poll panel to send a requisition to the Centre for the deployment of forces within 48 hours.

The high court observed that no significant measures had been taken since its order on June 13 to deploy central forces in sensitive areas for the poll process. On June 13, the court had directed the requisition and immediate deployment of central forces in areas and districts declared sensitive by the SEC.