The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered that the West Bengal State Election Commission ( WBSEC) “should and shall requisition central forces to work in tandem with State police to ensure free and fair elections” to the panchayat in the State. The High Court, however, refused to make changes to the panchayat election schedule in the State announced by the WBSEC on June 8. Elections to about 63,239 seats at gram panchayat level, 9730 panchayat samiti seats and 928 zilla parishad seats are scheduled for July 8.
The High Court’s orders follow petitions filed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. The High Court also set aside the prayer that a retired High Court Judge should be appointed as observer to the polls. The WBSEC was also told not to deploy civic police volunteers.
