State submits report on poll security during KMC election- BJP calls for preservation of CCTV evidence-Cal HC reserves order
The Calcutta High Court bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj on Thursday took on record compliance reports filed by the State government as well as the West Bengal State Election Commission. The State acted pursuant to the Court’s order against an appeal of BJP seeking deployment of Central Forces during Kolkata Municipal Corporation on 19th December.
The Single Jusge Bench of Justice Rajsekhar Mantha had rejected BJP’s plea to deploy Central forces. Against the said order, BJP had moved the Division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, who had also rejected the order. The Election Commission and the State both had represented to the Court that the available police force of the city is enough to tackle any violence during the election. Based on which the Court passed the order in favour of the state, However the Bench did not dispose of the plea to see if what has been stated in this Court is being complied with.
On Thursday, the counsel appearing for the State Election Commission submitted the Commission had taken all the steps taken in order to conduct free and safe elections. He further apprised the Bench that the State Election Commission had also addressed all the complaints filed by contesting parties and other aggrieved persons. Furthermore, it was also submitted that in compliance with the Court's directions, area domination and route march were also conducted in a planned and systematic manner. Records of the same were submitted in the form of a report to the Court.
Per Contra, Pinky Anand, counsel appearing for the BJP submitted, that large scale violence had taken place across the city and thus the report can not be considered.
BJP submitted that CCTV footage of all polling booths as well as the EVM machines used should be preserved for the purpose of evidence.
The Court stated that an order will be passed and uploaded. The matter will be heard next on January 6, 2022.
In a related matter, for the election at 119 municipal bodies the State Election Commission submitted that the first phase of the remaining municipal polls would be held on January 22, 2022 and February 27, 2022. BJP had moved the Court to direct SEC to conduct the remaining election in one phase. The matter has also been posted for January 6.