Kolkata, March 25 – A division bench of the Calcutta High Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday to make adequate safety arrangements, as well as provide sufficient drinking water and other basic amenities for voters at all polling stations used for the upcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal next month.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, gave this direction to the ECI in response to a public interest litigation filed by Samik Bhattacharya, the President of the West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party and a Rajya Sabha member, seeking the court's intervention to ensure 100 per cent booth-level security in the state's upcoming Assembly elections on April 23 and April 29.
However, the division bench also stated that the petitioner did not have the authority to determine whether any central or state agency would be held accountable for ensuring peaceful state elections.
The Calcutta High Court division bench indicated that the ECI would make the decision on this matter.
The Calcutta High Court division bench also added that the court would ensure that voters going to the polling stations to cast their votes are provided with basic amenities like drinking water, and that the security systems at the polling stations and polling booths are adequate.
During the court hearing on March 18, the division bench raised the question of whether it was also the responsibility of the West Bengal government, along with the ECI, to ensure free, fair, and violence-free elections in the state.
West Bengal will go to the polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
In the first phase, polling will be held for 152 Assembly constituencies, and in the second phase, for 142 constituencies.
On Wednesday, the public interest litigation, challenging the ECI's recent orders for the transfer, replacement, and deputation of bureaucrats and police officers, is also scheduled for hearing at the same division bench of the Calcutta High Court.