Reconsider 'no' to security forces for Bengal polls

The Calcutta High Court Monday gave the central government a day's time to reconsider its inability to provide security personnel for the West Bengal panchayat polls.

Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also told the central government to let them know the minimum number of security forces it can spare.

"We will inform the court about our stand Tuesday," central government's counsel S.S. Sarkar said.

The order came during the hearing on an application filed by the State Election Commission (SEC) seeking adequate security measures for the polls slated for July 2, 6 and 9.

The central government, citing "overstretched deployment" especially in the wake of the Uttarakhand calamity, told the court it was not possible to provide central security forces as sought by the state government.

The SEC then told the court that it would not be possible for it to hold the polls. It said any rescheduling of the polls, if possible, can be done only if the state government promised adequate security.

The SEC counsel, citing a home ministry report, said the central government earlier provided central forces for panchayat polls in Andhra Pradesh.

"Why can't (it) do the same (for) Bengal?" the court asked the central government's counsel, who said this was done in view of the Telangana issue.

The court asked the state government if it was possible for it to compel the central government to provide the security forces.

With the poll panel adamant on conducting the polls only if adequate security forces were avialble, West Bengal advocate general Bimal Chatterjee accused it of "not willing to conduct the polls at all".

Observing that conducting the panchayat polls was a constitutional obligation, the court asked the stakeholders to explore avenues to resolve the impasse.

"What is the way out? Compensating the security shortfall? Amending the poll schedule? The parties will have to address the court on a solution," observed the court.

The matter will next come up for hearing Tuesday.