The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea filed by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) challenging the Election Commission of India's directive requiring at least one Central government officer to be appointed as counting supervisor at each counting table for the West Bengal Assembly results.
A special sitting bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the apprehension of bias expressed by the AITC and said that during elections all officers are under the control of the poll panel, and the Commission cannot be faulted for acting contrary to any regulation in choosing officers from the state or central pool.
The bench also clarified that the Returning Officer, who has 'overarching' power over the entire counting process, is necessarily an official from the state government service.
The court disposed of the plea by recording the ECI's assurance, saying, 'No further orders are necessary except to reiterate the statement by senior advocate Dama Sesadri Naidu that the circular of April 13 will be implemented in true letter and spirit.'
