Soumya Aich Roy And ANR. v. The West Bengal State Election Commission And ORS.

SL 04 21.06.2023 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side W.P.A 14683 of 2023 Soumya Aich Roy and Ors.

-versus The West Bengal State Election Commission and Ors.

Mr. Pratip Chatterjee, Mr. Rajdip Rai Mr. Rabiul Islam Mr. Atis Biswas Mr. Koustav Bagchi Ms. Manidipa Mondal Mr. Masud Mullick ...For the Petitioners.

Mr. Samim Ul Bari.

...For the State.

The grievance of the petitioners is that they submitted their nomination for contesting the Panchayat General Election, 2023, but they were restrained and obstructed from filing the Form B where the symbols of the political parties were allotted. The submission of the petitioners is that they were severely assaulted, brutally beaten up and prevented from filing the Form B.

Representation was filed by the spokesperson and the President, Indian National Congress with a request to permit the candidates to submit the Form B.

The West Bengal State Election Commission replied to the request by mentioning that the matter is being looked into for taking necessary action. The learned advocate appearing for the State Election Commission is yet to receive any instruction in the matter. As the matter is fairly urgent, accordingly, the Court is compelled to pass order in the matter without granting any adjournment.

As the date of the election is fast approaching, the State Election Commission is directed to take immediate steps in the matter and ensure that the candidates of the Indian National Congress are permitted to file the Form B with adequate police protection from the Central Reserve Police Force and in the absence of the Central Reserve Police Force by the Superintendent of the Police, Murshidabad.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order be supplied to the parties, if applied for, as early as possible.

( Amrita Sinha, J.)