Kolkata, 25 March (H.S.): The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of India to ensure adequate security arrangements at all polling stations for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, along with the provision of drinking water and other basic amenities for voters.

The direction was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sujay Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Samik Bhattacharya, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal and a Rajya Sabha member. The petition sought to ensure foolproof security at the booth level during the elections.

However, the bench clarified that it is not for the petitioner to decide whether the responsibility of conducting peaceful elections should be assigned to a central agency or a state agency, stating that the final authority in this regard rests with the Election Commission.

The court emphasized that its primary concern is to ensure that voters visiting polling stations are provided with essential facilities such as drinking water, alongside robust security arrangements.

During the hearing, the bench also raised the question of whether conducting free, fair, and violence-free elections is solely the responsibility of the Election Commission or also that of the state government.

It may be noted that polling for the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with voting scheduled for 152 seats in the first phase and 142 seats in the second phase.

The same bench is also slated to hear another public interest litigation challenging recent orders of the Election Commission regarding the transfer and deputation of bureaucrats and police officials.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh