‘No further orders required’: Select committee rejects TMC’s request for vote counters

New Delhi: Supreme Court The TMC on Saturday refused to pass any order on the TMC’s plea challenging the deployment of central government staff for counting of votes in West Bengal “other than reiterating the statement submitted by the TMC”. election commission of indiaThe recommendation is that the impugned circular will be implemented.”The court recorded the Election Commission’s assurance of compliance with the April 13 notification, which, according to the TMC, also included deployment of state government employees and central government employees during the counting of votes.The plea was filed against a Calcutta High Court order that had earlier dismissed the TMC’s challenge to the vote-counting arrangements.A special bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter and fixed May 4 for counting of votes.During the hearing, the bench noted that TMC representatives would be present during counting of votes and said the EC’s notification did not violate the rules.senior advocate Kapil SibalAppearing with senior advocate Meenakshi Arora of AITC challenging the order, it was submitted that despite claiming to have been informed in advance, the petitioner was not aware of the April 13 notification until April 29. He also questioned the basis for the European Commission’s concerns about misconduct.Senior lawyer DS Naidu, who appeared before the Election Commission, said the election officials are state government employees and retain overall control over the counting process and selection of personnel. He said the April 13 notification on deployment of central government staff would be implemented in letter and spirit, arguing that the concerns raised were based on “wrong concerns”.One state government employee and one central government employee will be appointed as counting supervisor and counting assistant, he added.Justice Bacchi noted that it was “almost immaterial” to describe the counting officer as a central government nominee and said such decisions fell within the scope of the Election Commission of India’s subjective satisfaction. He also noted that the party-appointed counting agent will be present and the counting framework already includes a micro-observer who serves as a central government official, as well as counting supervisors and assistants.Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata BanerjeeThe motion was filed with the Supreme Court on Friday after the high court rejected its request to challenge the vote-counting arrangements.