The Supreme Court on Saturday declined to interfere with the Election Commission’s decision to appoint central government and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees as counting supervisors and assistants for the West Bengal Assembly election vote count scheduled on May 4, dealing a setback to the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The TMC had approached the apex court on Friday seeking directions to include state government nominees as counting supervisors, arguing that their exclusion could compromise the level playing field. The party contended that central government employees may be susceptible to influence from the ruling dispensation at the Centre during the counting process.
The Supreme Court, however, held that the Election Commission is empowered to appoint its own officials for election duties and found no grounds to strike down the relevant circular. The court stated that no further directions were necessary beyond recording the submission made by the Election Commission’s counsel that the circular would be implemented in “letter and spirit.”
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During the hearing, the Election Commission informed the court that it was acting in accordance with its April 13 circular and outlined the framework for staffing counting tables. The poll body said the system ensures balance by assigning personnel from both central and state governments—where a counting supervisor is drawn from the central government, the counting assistant would be from the state government—ensuring representation of state officials at each table.
Following the court’s observations, the Trinamool Congress adjusted its position and called for strict implementation of the Election Commission’s circular, urging that state government employees be appointed in accordance with the prescribed framework.
The vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is scheduled to take place on May 4 under the supervision of the Election Commission.
