High Court Upholds EC's Decision on Vote Counting Personnel

The Calcutta High Court rejected a plea by the TMC challenging the Election Commission's decision to use central government and PSU employees for vote counting in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The court reaffirmed the EC's prerogative to appoint supervisors and assistants from state or central government bodies.

The Calcutta High Court dismissed the plea questioning the Election Commission's directive to deploy central government and PSU employees during vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Justice Krishna Rao ruled there was no illegality in the decision, emphasizing the EC's authority to select counting personnel from central or state bodies.

Filed by the TMC, the plea alleged jurisdiction issues in the EC directive, but the court found the concerns unsubstantiated, supporting the EC's mandate under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.