High court unhappy at fighting between government, SEC

The Calcutta High Court today directed the West Bengal Government to ensure that nobody was prevented from filing nomination for the panchayat election even as it expressed unhappiness at the way the government and the State Election Commission were fighting on several issues concerning the poll.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi, in an interim order on a prayer by the State Election Commission directed that adequate police and armed protection be provided to see that all candidates can file their nomination for the election.
The bench, while passing the direction, said it would hear the SEC application tomorrow.

The bench noted the Advocate General's assurance that the government has provided adequate forces in the nomination stage.
The SEC has in its application, in connection with the court's order of May 14, prayed for half a company of armed forces per block in the nomination stage and also complained that the state was not cooperating with it.
The Chief Justice expressed unhappiness at the continuing legal battle between the state government and the SEC on several issues in holding the three-phase panchayat election which is scheduled to be held on July two, July six and July nine.

"This reflects badly on both the SEC and the government. It is beyond my comprehension how two constitutional bodies are fighting," the Chief Justice observed during the hearing.

"Is it not a joint venture? Why should they always come to the court instead of sitting together," he asked.
The division bench had on May 14 refused to accept the SEC's plea for 800 companies of central armed police force for holding the panchayat poll and directed that the state may requisition them from other states or the Centre if there was any shortfall.
The bench, while hearing an appeal by the state government against a single bench order, had directed that the polls be held in three phases and the election process be completed by July 15.