1 day ago
Calcutta High Court Seeks Petitioners’ Views on EVMs for Civic Polls
West Bengal is preparing to hold local elections in Kolkata and Howrah.
The election commission says it does not have enough voting machines.
Some machines are being kept by district officials because of earlier court orders in cases about past elections.
The commission asked the court if it could use those machines.
The people who brought the cases have not yet said whether they agree to withdraw them.
The court gave them time to decide and will hear the matter again on Monday.
The elections are expected after the Durga Puja festivities, but the court’s decision affects the commission’s preparations.
The West Bengal State Election Commission told the Calcutta High Court it lacks enough EVMs for upcoming civic elections.
Some EVMs are held by district administrations under earlier court orders linked to pending public interest litigations.
The commission argued those PILs are no longer relevant and asked to use the machines in reserve.
Petitioners’ lawyer questioned what would happen to their cases amid changed political circumstances; the court asked for their position.
The court set Monday for the next hearing, leaving use of the EVMs undecided.
- Who
- The West Bengal State Election Commission, petitioners in pending PILs, and the Calcutta High Court.
- What
- The court sought petitioners’ views before deciding whether EVMs held under earlier court orders can be used for municipal elections.
- Where
- Kolkata and Howrah, West Bengal, India.
- When
- The court heard the matter on Tuesday and scheduled the next hearing for Monday; the Kolkata and Howrah polls are likely after Durga Puja.
- Why
- The commission says it lacks enough EVMs, while some machines are held under court orders linked to earlier election-related PILs.
Commission’s position
Petitioners’ position
Use of reserved EVMs
Commission’s position
The commission says the pending PILs no longer have relevance and seeks permission to use EVMs held in reserve.
Petitioners’ position
Petitioners have not yet stated whether they will withdraw their cases; their lawyer asked what would happen to those cases in changed political circumstances.
Key facts
- Court
- Calcutta High Court
- Commission
- West Bengal State Election Commission
- Elections at issue
- Kolkata and Howrah municipal polls
- EVM concern
- The commission says it does not have enough machines
- Machines in custody
- Some are held by district administrations under earlier court directions
- Next hearing
- Monday
- Expected timing
- Kolkata and Howrah polls are likely after the Durga Puja festivities
Quotes
Chief Justice Rabindra V. Ghuge
Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court
“If you withdraw the cases, the court will decide on the EVM issue.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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