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Synopsis

The State Election Commission in its report placed before the Calcutta High Court on Monday proposed that the deadline for filing nominations for panchayat elections can be extended by one day.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnaman and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya was hearing two PILs for the impending Panchayat elections on July 8 filed by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and BJP's Suvendu Adhikari.

According to a report in Times of India, Advocate Jayanta Mitra appearing for State Election Commission proposed postponing the deadline from June 15 to June 16.

Further, Advocate Mitra added, "The provisions of the Panchayat Act bind my hands, and I can only extend the deadline for nominations by one day."

Concerning the employment of contractual employees such as civic volunteers, the SEC counsel told the court that the Panchayat Act allows the commission to recruit contractual employees and NCC cadets for election duty as a "last resort."

The present court while hearing the PIL stated that in the last three or four months, as many as 12 orders were issued by the Calcutta High Court on various demonstrations and congregations, religious or political that demanded attention to law and order.

During the previous hearing, the court had asked the State Election Commission to file its response to petitions filed by members of the political parties in opposition seeking date extensions.

The high court had ruled that the State Election Commission (SEC) can set a fair deadline for candidates to register nominations for the three-tier panchayat elections which are going to be held on July 8.

“Prima facie we are of the view that the time limit fixed in the notification is inadequate,” the court had held.

The SEC had informed the court that the elections would take place on July 8, with nominations due by June 15. The counting of votes is scheduled for July 11.

Case title: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Vs The West Bengal State Election Commission And Ors.