- By Aditya Jha
- Sat, 02 May 2026 11:44 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Supreme Court, while hearing a plea of Trinamool Congress (TMC) against deployment of only central government employees as supervisors in the vote counting, has pointed out that there was nothing illegal about the order passed by the Election Commission of India. The ruling party in West Bengal filed the plea in the top court after it got rejected by the Calcutta High Court earlier on Friday. The plea was listed on an urgent basis as the counting for the Bengal assembly election is on May 4, a day after tomorrow.
While appearing for the TMC, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal pointed out that while the notice was issued back on April 13, the party was informed about this on April 29, giving it a very less time to act. He further questioned the rationale behind expecting trouble in every booth. "The second point is that they have an apprehension. That there is going to be trouble in every booth. Where do they get their operation from? This is shocking," he told the apex court.
While responding to his remarks, Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, while appearing for the poll body, asserted that the returning officer is from the state government cadre. "Each candidate will I also have their own counting agent.
It is a completely misplaced apprehension," he was quoted as saying by the Live Law. The bench later pointed out that no interference was required into the matter, further stating that the circular issued by the poll body should be followed.
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Earlier on Friday, the High Court had stated that the poll body has right to appoint either central or state government employees as the counting supervisor. "This Court does not find any illegality for appointing counting supervisor and counting assistant from the Central Government/Central PSU employee instead of State Government employee," the High Court had said.