The Calcutta High Court has refused to initiate any action against poll duty officers until April 29, despite allegations of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations during the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections. The decision comes amid multiple petitions seeking strict enforcement of the MCC against officials accused of partisan behavior.
Court's Stand on MCC Violations
Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, hearing the matter, observed that the court cannot intervene at this stage as the election process is underway. The judge stated that any action against officers on poll duty could disrupt the electoral process. The court directed the Election Commission to consider the complaints and take appropriate steps, but no coercive action should be taken against the officers until April 29.
Allegations of Bias
The petitioners alleged that several poll duty officers were acting in favor of a particular political party, violating the MCC. Specific instances of misconduct, including allowing unauthorized rallies and failing to register complaints, were cited. The court, however, noted that the Election Commission has the primary authority to handle such matters during elections.
Election Commission's Role
The Election Commission of India (ECI) submitted that it is monitoring the situation and has already issued directives to ensure free and fair elections. The ECI assured the court that any violation of the MCC would be dealt with strictly after the election process concludes. The court accepted the ECI's submission and disposed of the petition, granting liberty to the petitioners to approach the commission with their grievances.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 29, by which time the court expects the Election Commission to have examined the complaints. This interim order provides temporary relief to the officers while the election process continues.
