Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Against Nomination Papers Cancellation in Birbhum

SC dismissed plea by ex-IPS officer Debasish Dhar, who was denied BJP ticket for Birbhum Lok Sabha seat due to lack of 'no dues certificate.' Despite Dhar's resignation from IPS, SC declined to interfere, stating it would delay the election process. SC found no bias in the returning officer's actions and refused to accept Dhar's claims of prejudice. Dhar withdrew his case and plans to approach the Election Commission. BJP nominated Debtanu Bhattacharya in Dhar's place. Dhar had been placed under suspension following a firing incident during the 2021 assembly polls. TMC's Satabdi Roy is the main rival in the Birbhum election scheduled for May 13.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea of former IPS officer Debasish Dhar, who was given a BJP ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls from West Bengal's Birbhum, challenging cancellation of his nomination papers.

The nomination papers of Dhar as a BJP candidate was cancelled after he failed to produce the 'no dues certificate'.

He had resigned as an IPS officer recently.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan said any interference at this stage would mean stalling the election process which it was not inclined to do.

The top court refused to accept the submission of any prejudice by the returning officer against Dhar, and said he has acted in a bonafide manner.

Senior advocate Nidhesh Gupta, appearing for Dhar, said there was no demand raised at the time of resignation.

The apex court said mere acceptance of resignation does not mean that there were no dues pending.

Gupta then sought permission to withdraw the case and approach the Election Commission.The matter was dismissed as withdrawn.

The district election office cancelled the candidature of the former IPS officer, citing technical grounds.

In his place, the BJP nominated senior party leader Debtanu Bhattacharya, who filed his papers.

Dhar had been put on compulsory waiting after the Sitalkuchi firing in Cooch Behar district in which five persons were killed in the 2021 assembly polls.

The election in Birbhum is scheduled for May 13, with TMC's Satabdi Roy as the main rival against the BJP.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)