Ending what has been a legally tumultuous panchayat poll process, a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on 20 April directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to announce fresh election dates for the West Bengal panchayat polls. The polls were earlier scheduled to be held in three phases on 1, 3 and 5 May, with counting on 8 May.
In a thirty-five page judgement, the Court has also asked for an extension of the nomination process, and for the election process to be started afresh by the SEC.
Last week, opposition parties contested the poll panel’s decision to revoke an order extending the dates of nomination for the polls, which it had issued a few hour earlier. The reason given by the panel for the cancellation of the extension order was a letter of legal advice from the state’s Additional Chief Secretary Saurabh Kumar Das and ruling Trinamool Congress's Vice President Kalyan Banerjee, that the notification was a violation of Panchayat Act's section 46 (2).
The court’s order overruled the State Election Commission’s order, and is being seen as a blow to the SEC as well as the Trinamool Congress.
Arguing for the Trinamool in court earlier, Banerjee had said the election dates were fixed by the SEC in consultation with the SEC, as it meant mobilising a lot of rural resources and also stalling development work.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, have accused the election commission of being “unable to maintain the dignity of its responsibility” and failed in its duty to ensure free and fair elections.
The panchayat poll nominations in Bengal have seen a series of violence, and opposition parties had moved court accusing the Trinamool of unleashing massive pre-poll violence on its workers to prevent them from filing nominations.
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