SEC seeks deletion of 'consent' in HC order on panchayat polls

West Bengal State Election Commission today filed an application before the Calcutta High Court claiming that the court's May 14 order directing holding of panchayat elections in the state in three phases by July 15 was "not a consent order".
The application, claiming that it was not a consent order, prayed for deletion of the part in the order wherein it was stated that the directions were by consent, Amrita Pandey, counsel representing the commission, said.
The application is likely to be moved before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi on June three, when the court will reopen after summer vacation begining tomorrow.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi had in its order of May 14 did not accept the WBSEC's plea for 800 companies of central armed police force for holding the panchayat polls in the state and directed that the state may requisition them from other states or the Centre if there was any shortfall.
The bench directed that the panchayat election be held in three phases and that the poll process should be completed by July 15.
The bench, hearing an appeal by the state government against a single bench order, directed that the dates for the election should be notified by the state government in consultation with the State Election Commission.