Masuma Sultana v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

04.08.2023 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side W.P.A 17438 of 2023 Masuma Sultana -versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Ms. Priyakshi Banerjee.

...For the Petitioner.

Mr. A. K. Nag.

...For the State.

Ms. Sonal Sinha, Mr. Tarun Kumar Chatterjee, Mr. Sujit Gupta, Mr. Sayan Datta, Mr. Soumen Chatterjee.

...For the State Election Commission.

The petitioner contested the Panchayat General Elections, 2023. She alleges several illegalities committed on the day of the poll and at the time of counting.

The petitioner prays for re-poll.

Complaint was lodged on 13th July, 2023. The same is yet to be considered.

It appears that the result of the election was declared on 11th July, 2023. Entertaining the writ petition at this stage may cause prejudice to the returned candidate.

If the petitioner is aggrieved by the manner in which the election was conducted, then it will be open for the petitioner to approach the appropriate forum with an 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 produce the same as and when called for.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

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

( Amrita Sinha, J.)