CJ ticks off govt,SEC for protracted legal fights

Moving the application,SEC counsel Barrister Samaraditya Pal said the commission has written several letters to the state government seeking to know the security arrangement for the nomination stage as well as the polling days,but the latter is yet to furnish any reply.

The three-phase panchayat election is scheduled to be held on July 2,July 6 and July 9. The nomination process for the first phase has begun on May 29.

Pal said only nine constables and one sub-inspector have been posted at each block office for the nomination stage.

The Division Bench,comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi,wanted to know from Pal if the SEC,in its letters to the state government,had mentioned the number of security forces required at the block level for area domination. It was revealed that the SEC did not do so.

Pal said that at least half a company of security forces was required in each block.

Advocate General Bimal Chatterjee,however,contended that the nomination process was going on smoothly with candidates facing no problem in filing nomination.

The Chief Justice also remarked at the continuing legal battle between the state government and the SEC. “Why are the two constitutional bodies,the state government and the state election commission,fighting in the courts and why are they not settling the disputes by holding discussions.”

“Is it not a joint venture? Why should they always come to the court instead of sitting together?” said the Chief Justice.

The Division Bench said it will hear the argument tomorrow.

CPM leader files plea in HC

Senior CPM leader Rabin Deb Monday filed an application in the Calcutta High Court,alleging that candidates of his party were stopped from filing nomination in several places and were also attacked by the workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress party. The Division Bench said it would hear the petition later.