Approach Calcutta HC on rural polls, SC tells BJP

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with panchayat elections in West Bengal, asking the state BJP to approach the Calcutta High Court with its issues.

A bench of Justice R.K. Agrawal and Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre heard the plea by West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that questioned the State Election Commission's Tuesday decision to revoke its order of extending the last date for filing nominations by a day to April 10 (Tuesday).

As senior counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for West Bengal government, urged the apex court to say that none of the latter's observations will impact the high court hearing, the bench said: "... observations do not carry any weight. If it (had) carried weight, then the State Election Commission would not have rescinded its order."

The panchayat elections are scheduled for May 1, 3 and 5, while the counting of votes will be taken up on May 8.

The West Bengal BJP moved the court, seeking extension of time to file nomination papers for the polls.

It said in an "absolute colourable exercise" of power, the State Election Commission recalled and rescinded its April 9 order extending the time for filing nomination papers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m on April 10, citing "legal issues".

On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the panchayat elections as it rejected a BJP plea for rescheduling the polls so that its candidates could file their nomination papers and deployment of central paramilitary forces.

The top court had, however, granted liberty to the aggrieved political parties and their candidates as well as Independents to approach the State Election Commission.

Saying that "we are not inclined to interfere" with the elections, Justice Agrawal, had said that the top court by its earlier judgment ruled that "once the election process has been set in motion, the court ought not to interfere...".

--IANS

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