The stir has intensified after the assembly elections in West Bengal. Now Trinamool Congress has moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission’s decision to appoint only central employees or PSU employees as counting supervisors. The ruling party of Bengal (TMC) has cited the seriousness of the matter while demanding an immediate hearing.

Tomorrow, on May 2, the Supreme Court has formed a special bench to hear TMC’s petition against the order of the Calcutta High Court in which its petition was rejected. In this petition, a challenge was made to deploy only Central Government and PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) employees as supervisors in the counting of votes in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will hear the application tomorrow at 10:30 am.

Calcutta High Court had rejected the petition

TMC had earlier moved the Calcutta High Court against deploying only central government and central public sector employees as counting supervisors and assistants at the counting centres. Where his petition was rejected on 30 April.

The High Court said in its order, ‘It is the prerogative of the Election Commission to appoint counting supervisors and counting assistants from among the state government or central government employees. The court does not find any illegality in the appointment of Central Government or Central PSU employees instead of State Government employees.

The court had also said that the instructions issued by the Additional Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal were issued to ensure transparency, fairness and orderly conduct of the vote counting process and it is part of the election process.

Counting of votes will take place in West Bengal on May 4.

TMC MP and senior lawyer Kalyan Banerjee and advocate Biswaroop Bhattacharya had filed public interest litigation in the Calcutta High Court. Kalyan Banerjee had alleged that the Election Commission was appointing only central employees as observers at the counting centres, whereas such a decision cannot be taken unilaterally. He had sought intervention from the court. Counting of votes for West Bengal Assembly elections will take place on May 4. Before this, political controversy has intensified in the state regarding the vote counting system.

Read this also: Bengal Assembly Elections: Re-polling will be held at 15 booths on May 2, voting from 7 am to 6 pm.