After much chaos, Calcutta HC orders WB EC to accept nominations through electronic source for Panchayat polls

NewsBharati    09-May-2018
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Kolkata, May 9: After much due and the pre poll violence enduring in the state of Kolkata for the Panchayat Polls, the candidates would finally feel a sigh of relief. Seeking the approval of filing the nomination of names through electronic source, the Calcutta High Court has directed the State election Commission to accept the nomination of the candidates within the stipulated time for the panchayat elections.

 

The Calcutta High court cited that those nomination names coming from the candidates who have filed their nomination through e-mail before 3 pm on April 23rd, the last date of filing nomination papers, have to be accepted.

The court further said that the State Election Commission is constitutional body and have to act fairly and transparently to enable the democratic principles by allowing the contestants to contest the elections.

The court said, in a situation where allegations of hampering candidates from filing nominations had surfaced, it should have allowed the filing of papers through e-mail. The CPI(M) had submitted before the court that many of their candidates were prevented from filing nominations by what it called criminals.

The Panchayat polls in Kolkata turned out to be a nightmare for many because of the violence that hampered candidates from even filing their nomination. Questioning the democratic rights of the people and stating allegations by parties on each other, the scenario has completely hampered not only politics but by a wide range affected the people.
Earlier, the SEC had opposed the appellant's plea to allow the filing of nominations through e-mail, claiming that the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 2003 did not have any such provision.

Calcutta High Court West Bengal State Election Commission Nomination E-mails