Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Suvendhu Adhikari's Plea To Re-Assess SC/ST Figures In West Bengal For Panchayat Polls

The Supreme Court bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala on Thursday refused to entertain the petition filed by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly seeking to re-assess the figures of SCs and STs ahead of the West Bengal Panchayat Polls. 

While noting that the interdicting an election was a 'serious matter' the bench refused to entertain the petition.

Through the petition, Adhikari had challenged the Calcutta High Court order which had rejected his plea against two notifications concerning the computation of the population of SCs/STs/Backward Classes in the State of Bengal for the purpose of reservation of seats in Panchayat Polls in West Bengal. Adhikari was represented by Senior Advocate PS Patwalia. 

Adhikari contended in his petition that there could not be two separate yardsticks for SC/STs and another for OBCs. He also contended that the State Election Commission, along with the State Administration had favoured the current ruling party in the Panchayat Polls by manipulating data.

The West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) has begun the process of holding elections for the three-tier panchayat system. When Adhikari approached the Calcutta High Court, it declined to interfere in the process. 

In today's proceedings, CJI DY Chandrachud asked–

"But how can we stop them from holding elections? It is already due in May."

Accordingly, the court refused to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order and dismissed the petition.

Case Title: Suvendu Adhikari v. State of WB And Ors. SLP(C) No. 6919/2023

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