SEC moves HC on unavailability of forces for panchayat polls

Continuing its legal battle with the West Bengal government over holding of panchayat elections, the State Election Commission moved an application before the Calcutta High Court today claiming that adequate forces were not being provided despite its direction.
The application, which was moved before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi, also claimed that supremacy of the Commission, which was upheld by the bench in an order last week, was also not being maintained in some cases.
The Commission prayed that the court direct the state government to make immediate arrangements for adequate forces for holding the elections in a free and fair manner.

It also sought direction to the government to comply with its earlier orders.
The bench directed the Commission to give notice to Government of India.
It directed that the matter would be heard tomorrow.

The bench had on June 13 upheld the supremacy of the Commission in holding the panchayat elections in the state.
It ordered that the SEC would decide on the requirement of forces for the polls and the state would make the arrangements.
It would be the state government's discretion to procure the forces from other states or Central forces, it had said.