Read Time: 03 minutes

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice R Bharadwaj of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) to ensure that CCTV surveillance is maintained in every voting booth for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) polls to be held on December 19.

The State Election Commission had earlier said to the Court that CCTV would be used in 25% of the booths in Kolkata. 

A public interest litigation was filed by Devdutta Majhi, BJP candidate from Chowringhee, in the Calcutta High Court challenging that decision. 

Majhi said in the petition that post-election violence had taken place here since the last elections and that one Sub-Inspector of Police was also shot in the last municipal election. He said that police were also injured in the college elections here. Therefore, he pleaded that it is important to increase police force and use CCTV cameras to avoid unrest.

State Advocate General Soumendranath Mukherjee said there was no objection to the High Court's decision. 

"The Commission is conducting the election," he said. We have no objection if they want to use CCTV in all the booths, "he said.

The Court also said electronic surveillance should be ensured in strong rooms where EVMs will be stored following the elections. Thus, the Court directed for installation of CCTV cameras and maintenance of surveillance in all polling booths during the 144-ward KMC elections.

Cause Title: Devdutta Majhi vs State of West Bengal