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SC Declines to Interfere in TMC Plea on Counting Staff Deployment
Says EC free to decide personnel; circular allowing mix of central and state staff upheld
The Supreme Court of India on Saturday declined to pass any further orders on a plea filed by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) challenging the dismissal of its petition by the Calcutta High Court.
A special bench comprising Justice P S Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has the authority to decide the deployment of personnel for vote counting.
The bench noted that the ECI’s April 13 circular cannot be termed incorrect. The poll body clarified that the circular provides for a mix of central and state government employees as counting supervisors, addressing concerns raised by the TMC.
The court also indicated that the apprehensions expressed by the TMC regarding possible wrongdoing were misplaced, effectively upholding the Election Commission’s position ahead of the counting process in West Bengal.