The Supreme Court declined to entertain Sanatan Sanstha’s plea seeking deployment of central forces and a monitoring committee to prevent post-poll violence in West Bengal, granting liberty to approach the Calcutta High Court.
Supreme Court Declines To Entertain Plea
The Supreme Court declined to entertain a plea seeking deployment of central forces in West Bengal to prevent alleged post-poll violence after the Assembly election results.
The Court asked the petitioner to approach the Calcutta High Court for the relief sought.
The matter came up before a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
Sanatan Sanstha Seeks Preventive Measures
Senior Advocate V. Giri appeared for Sanatan Sanstha and raised concerns about possible violence after the declaration of results.
He submitted that West Bengal had witnessed widespread violence after the 2021 Assembly elections. On that basis, he sought preventive directions during the ongoing counting of votes.
“Last time there was widespread post-poll violence, we have sought a direction that there could be some monitoring committee, preferably headed by a former Supreme Court judge to oversee that there is deployment of adequate force to prevent violence,” Giri submitted before the Court.
ECI’s Role Discussed During Hearing
The Bench indicated that the petitioner should move the High Court.
Giri submitted that the Election Commission of India would have no further role after the declaration of results.
Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, appearing for the ECI, agreed with this submission.
“Our rule ceases once the counting is done,” Naidu submitted.
Bench Says High Court Is The Appropriate Forum
Giri further submitted that the previous trend showed a high possibility of violence.
However, the Bench maintained that the petitioner should seek relief before the High Court.
Giri also informed the Court that the organisation had originally filed the writ petition during the SIR period. The petition had sought protection for officers involved in SIR duty.
He added that the present prayer came through an interlocutory application in the same writ petition.
The Bench remained firm that the petitioner should approach the High Court.
Court Refers To State’s Law And Order Responsibility
During the hearing, Justice Bagchi observed, “The political executive of the State will decide.”
CJI Surya Kant added, “We expect that they will understand that law and order is their subject.”
The Bench noted that the main writ petition filed by the organisation is listed on May 11. It said it would take up the matter on the scheduled date.
