The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday established a firm stance regarding the ongoing West Bengal assembly polls, stating it will not issue any orders concerning officers on election duty until the conclusion of the second phase of polling on April 29.
The decision came during a session presided over by Justice Krishna Rao, following a verbal plea seeking to restrain a high-ranking police observer from his duties in the South 24 Parganas district.
The matter was brought before the court by a lawyer who verbally requested an order against IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma. Sharma, who was appointed by the Election Commission (EC) as a police observer for the South 24 Parganas district, was accused of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The lawyer further alleged that the officer was involved in the intimidation of voters. Despite these serious claims, Justice Rao noted that the formal process of filing a petition regarding these grievances was not yet complete.
When the allegations of voter intimidation were raised, Justice Rao advised the lawyer to seek redressal through the Election Commission of India. In response, the lawyer claimed that the EC had already been informed of the situation but had failed to provide a response so far.
Justice Rao maintained that the court would maintain its hands-off approach for the immediate future. “I will not pass any order with regard to any officer who is on election duty till April 29,” the Court observed.
IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma is part of a contingent of police observers deployed by the Election Commission to oversee the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections. These observers are tasked with ensuring that polling remains free and fair.
With the second phase of the polls scheduled for April 29, the High Court’s refusal to intervene ensures that the administrative and security framework established by the Election Commission remains undisturbed during the critical voting window.
