Calcutta HC Orders Continued Deployment of Central Forces for Post-Poll Security

The Calcutta High Court recently passed an order stating that Central paramilitary forces should remain deployed in West Bengal for a period of 10 days after the declaration of results of the upcoming panchayat elections.

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Uday Kumar passed the order after acknowledging the valid concerns expressed by the petitioners regarding potential post-poll violence. The court took into account the occurrence of similar incidents in 2018 and 2021 following the announcement of poll results.

“There is an apprehension of post poll violence, which cannot be brushed aside, given the past experience. We are only concerned with protection of the public at large and if such violence takes place, it would affect the public. There are chances of post poll violence as winning candidates might celebrate etc. Therefore, let the Central forces be deployed for 10 more days after the declaration of results,” the bench directed.

During the hearing, the State Election Commission (SEC) informed the bench that it would not have the authority to extend the deployment of forces beyond July 12, the date of the election results declaration.

“Our jurisdiction would come to an end after the day when results would be declared. Therefore, we can order deployment only till July 12. After that either the court can order it or the nodal officer of the Central government can take such a decision,” senior advocate Kishore Datta submitted.

Taking the contentions into consideration, the bench accepted the arguments and passed an order for the continued deployment of central forces.