‘No Further Orders Necessary’: SC Bench Rejects TMC Plea On Counting Staff

The Supreme Court refused to pass any fresh order on a plea by the Trinamool Congress challenging the deployment of Central government staff in vote counting in West Bengal. The court, however, recorded the Election Commission of India’s assurance that its April 13 circular on deployment of staff will be implemented in letter and spirit. The plea came after the Calcutta High Court had earlier dismissed the challenge to the counting arrangement. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter, with counting scheduled for May 4. The Election Commission stated that both State and Central government employees will be part of the counting process under the Returning Officer’s supervision.