The Supreme Court will hold a special sitting on Saturday to hear a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) challenging an Election Commission of India (ECI) directive mandating at least one central government officer to be the counting supervisor at each counting table ahead of the counting on May 4.
In an urgent appeal, the TMC approached the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant with an urgent request to constitute a bench on Saturday as the counting of votes in West Bengal is scheduled on Monday.
A bench of justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi will take up the plea filed by advocate Sanchit Garga against the ECI, the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the state’s additional CEO, who issued the April 13 order challenged by the TMC.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and other senior advocates are expected to argue the petition before the top court.
The TMC has questioned the requirement of central government officers at counting tables, apprehending bias and a possible distortion of a level playing field.
According to the petition, such a directive will “significantly” alter the composition of personnel at the counting tables by disproportionately increasing the presence of individuals under the central government's control.
The TMC has urged the top court to grant relief by addressing these concerns and has prayed for an interim direction to stay the ECI direction.
