Mouluda Bibi v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

31.07.2023 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side W.P.A 17333 of 2023 Mouluda Bibi -versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Raju Mondal.

...For the Petitioner.

Mr. Tarun Kumar Chatterjee Mr. Sujit Gupta Mr. Sayan Datta Mr. Soumen Chatterjee ...For the State Election Commission.

Mr. Amal Sen, Mr. Jaladhi Das.

...For the State.

The petitioner contested the Panchayat General Elections, 2023. Allegation is that nearly 1/3rd of the polled ballots were unsigned by the Presiding Officer. Complaint was lodged on 16th July, 2023. The same is yet to be considered.

It appears that the result of the election was declared on 11th July, 2023 but the complaint was lodged long thereafter.

Accordingly, the prayer of the petitioner for consideration of the complaint cannot be accepted. The writ petition fails and is hereby dismissed.

Dismissal of the writ petition will, however, not stand in the way of the petitioner from approaching the appropriate forum by way of election petition, for redressal of her grievances, if so advised.

The Panchayat Returning Officer is directed to properly preserve the CCTV/Video footages and the ballot papers and to produce the same as and when called for.

Urgent certified photocopy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties expeditiously on compliance of usual legal formalities.

( Amrita Sinha, J.)