Soma Khatun And ANR. v. Election Commission West Bengal State Election Commission And ORS.

31.07.2023 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side W.P.A 17339 of 2023 Soma Khatun & Anr.

-versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Raju Mondal.

...For the Petitioners.

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

Mr. Amal Kumar Sen, Mr. Jaladhi Das.

...For the State.

The petitioners contested the Panchayat General Elections, 2023. They raise several allegations with regard to the illegalities committed on the day of the poll as well as on the day of counting.

Complaint is alleged to be lodged before the Governor with copy to the respondent authorities, however, there is no proof of service of the complaint upon the respondents.

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

Dismissal of the writ petition will, however, not stand in the way of the petitioners 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.)