High Court nudges govt on forces

Chief Secy,Home Secy told to reply for not complying with July 10 order

The Calcutta High Court today directed Chief Secretary and Home Secretary to submit affidavits explaining as to why the courts July 10 order on deployment of forces for the panchayat elections was not carried out. The case would be heard on July 15.

On July 10,Justice Sanjib Banerjee had directed the state government to ban motorcycle rallies while also deploying security forces during campaigning and security of candidates when they filed nominations in accordance with the state election commissions (SEC) demand.

The court had also directed the state government to inform the SEC about the securtity arrangement in the districts after deployment.

During the hearing,however,it was revealed that the state government did not obey the courts order. Following such submission,Justice Banerjee asked the Advocate General as to why the Chief Secretary or Home Secretary did not implement the order passed on July 10.

After the meeting with the Chief Secretary,Home Secretary and the DGP on July 6,the SEC had demanded deployment of at least 30 security personnel in each of the block. The elections are being conducted at more than 57,000 booths spread across 329 blocks in the state.

The state government,however,neither complied with the order nor informed the SEC about it.

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