Calcutta HC orders deployment of 82,000 central forces for panchayat elections
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Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has issued a directive to the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) to requisition more than 82,000 central forces personnel within 24 hours for deployment in the upcoming panchayat elections.
Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, presiding over a division bench, emphasised that during the 2013 panchayat elections, the SEC had requisitioned the same number of central forces personnel. Currently, the SEC has enlisted six companies of central forces for the panchayat polls scheduled for July 8. However, considering the increase in the number of districts from 17 in 2013 to 22 at present, along with a rise in the electorate over the past decade, the court instructed the SEC to promptly requisition an adequate number of central forces personnel within the given timeframe.
The court also specifically stated that the number of companies to be requisitioned should exceed the amount deployed during the 2013 elections. It warned that any attempts to obstruct the implementation of the order could lead to unfavourable consequences. In response, the counsel representing the SEC assured the court that they would immediately forward the requisition for an appropriate number of central forces personnel to the central government, as per the court's determination of adequacy.