After an intense battle in the courts, the Bengal panchayat polls are likely to be held as scheduled, 14th May. The Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court, in two separate cases, today directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to take the call on finalizing the poll date, also mentioning that the SEC and state must ensure free and fair polls and ensure security.
The apex court put a stay order in Calcutta High Court’s directives to accept e-nominations filed by the candidates until 3pm on April 23 and will hear the plea further on July 3. The Supreme Court also directed the SEC not to issue any notification on declaration of results till its hearing.
The Calcutta High Court division bench headed by Chief Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya said that the state will be responsible for providing security for the one-day poll. The bench said that the deployment of Central Forces in the 2013 Panchayat Polls could not stop violence. But this time since the state is not opting for Central forces, it will be liable for loss of life and property. If any such unwanted incident takes place, the state government has to compensate the damages.
The bench warned the officials who would chalk the security plans saying that they will also be responsible for the loss of life and the compensation will be deducted from their salary, and if the amount exceeded their salary, their properties would be seized.
The SEC and state government are yet to comment on the court’s observations, but the way things are unfolding, it is clear the state will go for the panchayat polls on May 14.
