SEC seeks deletion of word 'consent' from Cal HC order

State Election Commission today sought from Calcutta High Court deletion of the word 'consent' from its order on an appeal by the West Bengal government on holding panchayat elections in the state, over which the two are embroiled in a legal battle.
SEC counsel Samaraditya Pal claimed there was no consent on his part, but a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi insisted that the order was pronounced loud and clear and the SEC counsel had not said anything then.
Pal, however, argued that a judgement could not be with consent and he had not heard any such word during pronouncement of the order by the court on May 14.

The division bench, passing the judgement on that date, had refused to accept SEC's plea for 800 companies of central armed forces for the panchayat polls and directed that the state might requisition them from other states or the Centre if there was any shortfall.
The bench had directed that the panchayat election be held in three phases and election process be completed by July 15.
The bench, hearing an appeal by the state government against a single bench order, had directed that the dates for the election be notified by the state government in consultation with the SEC.

The election process has started and the three-phase poll dates have been announced, but the SEC filed an application before the court seeking deletion of the word 'consent' from the order, claiming that it had not given any.

The bench, taking up the application for hearing, asserted that the order, which framed guidelines for deployment of armed forces in poll booths, was passed with consent from both the SEC and the state government.
Appearing for the state government, advocate general Bimal Chatterjee opposed any modification of the May 14 order.
The division bench directed that it would hear both the parties on the issue tomorrow.