Central force will be deployed at highly sensitive booths, Calcutta High Court rejects TMC’s petition

Kolkata: Calcutta High Court has given a big decision regarding the deployment of central forces at highly sensitive polling stations in the state. The court clearly said that it is the responsibility of the Election Commission of India to ensure the security of highly sensitive booths. Along with this, the court rejected the petition of All India Trinamool Congress, in which the Election Commission had challenged the instructions for deployment of CRPF. In fact, on April 18, based on various intelligence reports and information, the Election Commission had issued instructions for deployment of Central Reserve Police Force to ensure free, fair and peaceful voting at highly sensitive booths. The Commission said that this step is necessary for fear-free voting and maintaining law and order.

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Trinamool Congress had reached the court against this direction. During the hearing, Trinamool Congress lawyer Anirvan Rai argued that the ‘Manual on Force Deployment’ was not properly followed in the force deployment. He said that the identification of sensitive areas should start at least six months before the voting, whereas in this case this instruction was issued after the election process started, which is purposeful and against the rules. At the same time, advocate Dama Sheshadri Naidu, appearing for the Election Commission, told the court that under Article 329 (B) of the Constitution, the court cannot interfere after the election process has started. He said that as per Section 1.3 of the 2023 Manual, the deployment of central forces is completely justified to maintain law and order and ensure fair voting.

The court said in its decision that the decision of the Election Commission has been taken on the basis of intelligence report and available facts and there is no illegality in it. The judge also clarified that mapping of sensitive areas had already been done and the district administration and police officials were aware of the entire situation. After this decision of the court, the way has now been cleared for deployment of central forces at highly sensitive booths, due to which efforts will be made to make the election process more secure and fair.