SC to hear TMC’s plea today over staff for counting votes
The Supreme Court is set to hear a special plea by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) challenging the use of central government and PSU employees in vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections. The Calcutta High Court had earlier dismissed the petition, stating the Election Commission's decision was legal and within its authority. AITC alleges the move creates a bias due to central government control over these employees, especially with the BJP in power at the Centre.
- ▪The Supreme Court will hear AITC's urgent plea on Saturday over the deployment of central government and PSU staff in vote counting.
- ▪The Calcutta High Court dismissed AITC's petition, ruling that the Election Commission has the authority to appoint central or state employees for counting.
- ▪AITC argues that mandating central government or PSU employees at counting tables creates a reasonable apprehension of bias, given the BJP-led central government's administrative control.
- ▪The party claims the directive disproportionately increases central officers' presence and undermines the neutrality of the electoral process.
- ▪The Calcutta HC termed the bias concerns 'impossible to believe' and suggested the matter be raised in an election petition after results are declared.
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SC to hear TMC’s plea today over staff for counting votesThe Calcutta high court dismissed the AITC’s petition on Thursday, saying there was no illegality in the poll panel’s decision to appoint counting supervisors.Published on: May 02, 2026 8:53 AM ISTBy Abraham ThomasShare viaCopy link The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a special sitting on Saturday to hear a plea filed by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) challenging a Calcutta high court order that dismissed their petition against the Election Commission’s (EC) directive to deploy central government and PSU employees for counting the votes polled in the West Bengal Assembly election.Supreme Court of India.
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