Supreme Court to Hear TMC's Plea Over Election Commission's Counting Staff Directive

The Supreme Court will hear a plea by the TMC against the Calcutta High Court's dismissal of their petition challenging the EC's directive to use central and PSU staff for vote counting in West Bengal's Assembly election. TMC argues the directive lacks jurisdiction; the EC asserts its legality.

The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea filed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday, challenging a recent Calcutta High Court decision. The high court had dismissed a TMC petition against the Election Commission's directive mandating the deployment of central government and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees for counting votes in the West Bengal Assembly election.

Elections for the 294-member assembly took place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the vote count scheduled for May 4. The TMC contends that the directive, issued on April 30, lacks jurisdiction and is based on unfounded concerns. However, the high court found no illegality in appointing counting supervisors from central government and PSU staff.

The TMC's plea is listed for a hearing on May 2, in front of a bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi. The Election Commission defends its directive citing the Representation of the People Act, 1951, allowing delegation of the commission's functions and its validity. The TMC's allegation that BJP influences central employees was not upheld by the high court, noting the presence of multiple observers during the counting process.