The Calcutta High Court has taken a significant step in the ongoing West Bengal Panchayat Elections controversy by ordering a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into allegations of document tampering by a Returning Officer. The court, in the case of Kashmira Begam Khan v. Secy, West Bengal Election Commission, has instructed the CBI to complete the investigation by July 5 and submit a report to the court on July 7, just a day before the scheduled panchayat elections.
In a bid to ensure transparency and impartiality in the investigation process, the court rejected the arguments put forth by the State Election Commission (SEC) and the state authorities, asserting that an independent authority like the CBI should conduct the inquiry. It noted that the allegations of tampering were raised against an officer responsible for conducting free and fair elections, making it necessary for an unbiased and competent entity to investigate the matter.
Furthermore, the court ordered the preservation and maintenance of the video recording of the scrutiny process conducted by the Panchayat Returning Officer, Uluberia I Block, until it is re-scrutinized.
The court's decision was prompted by petitions from candidates who claimed that their nomination papers' submitted documents were tampered with. Several similar incidents were reported, leading to the court's intervention. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 7.
In a related development, the court granted relief to candidates who alleged that their names were unreasonably removed from the final list of candidates. It directed the State Election Commission, through the Panchayat Returning Officer, to allow these petitioners to participate in the elections, stating that there was no evidence of voluntary withdrawal of their nominations.
Another case brought by Indian National Congress (INC) candidate Soumya Aich Roy, pertaining to poll-related violence, resulted in the court ordering the State Election Commission to ensure police protection for INC candidates while filing their Form B papers.
[Case titles: Boothnath Mondal & Ors. v. The State of West Bengal & Ors.; Ranjit Mondal & Ors. v. The State of West Bengal & Ors.; Deepa Naskar & Ors. v. The State of West Bengal & Ors; Sushanta Pramanik & Ors. v. The State of West Bengal & Ors.; Bablu Biswas & Ors. v. The State of West Bengal & Ors.]
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TAGS: West Bengal Panchayat Elections Calcutta High Court CBI probe alleged tampering nomination papers Returning Officer investigation transparency video recording petitioners document tampering State Election Commission scrutiny process deadline July 5 July 7 opposition parties independent authority impartiality controversy candidates relief final list poll-related violence Indian National Congress (INC) police protection.
