Kolkata, May 10: In a setback to the West Bengal government, the Calcutta High Court today directed that panchayat polls be held in three phases with centra police cover, upholding the primacy of the State Election Commission, saying it was non-negotiable.
A single judge of the High Court Justice Biswanath Somadder directed that the rural polls be held in three phases as sought by the Commission, rejecting the state's notification for holding the elections in two phases.
WB govt to appeal against Calcutta HC order in division bench Kolkata, May 10 (PTI) The West Bengal government would appeal against the Calcutta High Court order upholding the primacy of the State Election Commission and asking it to provide names of 400 observers for the panchayat polls by tomorrow, Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said today.
“We will appeal against the order before a division bench as early as possible because it is unrealistic and will undermine the federal structure and the state's minimum powers,” Mukherjee told reporters reacting to the HC order.
