By Admin 
Before the counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress has received a big blow from the Supreme Court. The court has rejected the petition challenging the appointment of central government employees in counting of votes. The court has said that there is no need to give any order in this matter. The bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that the Election Commission’s decision is completely within the rules.
Both the judges were sitting specifically on Saturday to hear Trinamool’s petition. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for Trinamool Congress, accused the Election Commission of arbitrariness. But the bench did not accept it. He made it clear that the appointment of employees for counting of votes is the right of the Election Commission.
Justice Bagchi, chairman of the bench, said, “It is not written anywhere in the Election Commission’s circular that the employees will be from the Center only. But even if they had written so, we would not have called them wrong.” Justice Narasimha said that there will be CCTV cameras in the counting centre, there will be agents of political parties there. In such a situation, there is no basis for the apprehension of the petitioner.
What did the Election Commission lawyer say?
After this, senior lawyer DS Naidu started speaking on behalf of the Election Commission. Naidu said that the entire petition has been filed under baseless apprehensions. Nowhere in the Election Commission’s circular has it been said that state government employees will have no role in the counting of votes. Even the returning officer who appoints the counting staff is also an officer of the state government.
The commission’s lawyer said that the entire work is being done as per the rules. Everything written in the circular will be followed and the duties of the employees will be imposed on the same basis. After this the court said, “There is no need for any order in this matter. The Election Commission has said that the circular will be fully followed.”
High Court also rejected TMC’s arguments
Earlier, Trinamool Congress had filed the same petition in the Calcutta High Court. On April 30, the High Court had rejected his arguments. The High Court had said that the appointment of employees for counting of votes is the prerogative of the Election Commission. If there is any discrepancy in the counting of votes, a petition can be filed later. No order will be given merely on the basis of apprehensions.
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