A division bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnaman and Justice Uday Kumar was unhappy with SEC for requisitioning only 22 companies of paramilitary forces as against 825 companies deployed in 2013. The Chief Justice said, “…if it is difficult for the Commissioner to take orders he can step down. The Governor may appoint someone else…”
In 2013, 825 companies (around 82,000) central forces were requisitioned. Twenty two companies of CAPF deployed in West Bengal today, as requisitioned by State Election Commission, a day after Supreme dismissed HC order on CAPF in Bengal Panchayat polls.
“The Court shouldn’t lose faith in the system and ultimately if people start losing faith in the system what’s the purpose of conducting the elections?” the HC observed. The court also observed that “…we are at a loss to understand as to what had happened to the independence and supremacy of the SEC in ensuing elections.”
The SEC submitted before the court that it has deployed specialised forces for six sensitive districts.
The petitioners mentioned that one company of central force was requisitioned for each of the 22 districts. The petitioner noted that one company consists of only 80 active personnel. The court observed that the central forces requisitioned are “inadequate” this time.In 2013, the Panchayat election was held in five phases and the strength of state police requisitioned was 1,05,000 and central forces were 82000.Congress Advocate Koustav Bagchi said, “When it is said that the State Election Commissioner should step down, it is really insulting. The SEC is trying to make the court order unworkable. If the order is not worked out in 24hours, it will lead to contempt.”
Calcutta High Court today took up two contempt applications filed by Leader of Opposition in state assembly Suvendu Adhikari and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chaudhury, alleging non-compliance of earlier orders of the High Court, dated June 13 and 15.
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