'Polls Should Be Stopped If Bloodbath Continues': Calcutta High Court Orders CBI Probe Into Violence During Nominations For Panchayat Elections

The Calcutta High Court today directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into alleged instances of violence and corruption that have taken place during nominations for elections to the Three-tier Panchayati Raj System in West Bengal, slated to be held on July 8.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Amrita Sinha took exception to the claims of abject violence taking place at the stage of filing nominations against certain groups of prospective candidates and orally remarked, “So many instances of violence? The polls should be stopped if the bloodbath continues.”

The development comes in petitions filed by various political parties such as the CPI(M), BJP and Congress, alleging violence, “pressure” being created for withdrawal of nominations and tampering of election documents.

One such incidence of tampering allegedly led to some candidates in Uluberia being able to bypass the scrutiny process as directed under law. When the petitioners went to complain about this to the Block Development Officer (BDO) of the area, they were turned away without a complaint being registered, it is alleged. Noting that the BDO was an employee of the State, Justice Sinha observed, “It would not be appropriate to entrust the burden of this inquiry to the state."

Justice Sinha even remarked that it prima facie appears that the State Election Commission in West Bengal was not being able to carry out its primary responsibilities of conducting a free, fair and peaceful election process. Justice Sinha orally observed,

“So much violence in one Panchayat poll. So much disorder. So many clashes. This is a shame for a state. Why is there so much disorder? What is the State Election Commission doing?”

The CBI was directed to submit their report before the Court on the 7th of July. The Panchayat polls are slated to be held on the 8th of July.

These observations come at a time when the State Election Commission itself was on the receiving end of Contempt applications filed by BJPs Suvendu Adhikari and Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chaudhury, before a bench of Chief Justice Sivagnaman and Justice Uday Kumar. The allegation against the SEC was that they did not obey the Court’s orders on the 13^th June and 15^th June. In today’s order, the Division Bench issued additional instructions to the SEC to requisition even more central paramilitary forces in a way that would effectively help address the law-and-order situation that was quickly developing.

Coram: Justice Amrita Sinha

Case Title: SOUMYA AICH ROY AND ANR. VS THE WEST BENGAL STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AND ORS. AND CONNECTED PETITIONS.