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Supreme Court to hear TMC plea seeking state govt employees as counting supervisors for WB polls
The TMC moved the Supreme Court seeking inclusion of West Bengal state government employees as counting supervisors for the WB assembly elections after Calcutta High Court rejected their challenge to the EC directive. The EC directive requires Central Government or PSU personnel as counting supervisors, and a Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for May 2.
Why It Matters
The case centers on neutrality and control of vote-counting personnel, potentially shaping precedent on who may supervise counting in elections.
Timeline
3 Events
Counting scheduled for May 4; TMC seeks inclusion of state employees
May 4, 2026
Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. The EC directive requires counting supervisors to be Central Government or PSU officials, with the TMC seeking to include West Bengal state government employees for these roles.
Supreme Court to hear urgent plea; bench of Justices Narasimha and Bagchi
May 2, 2026
A special Supreme Court bench has been constituted to hear the plea; the hearing will be held on May 2, 2026, by Justices PS Narasimha and J Bagchi.
EC directive and Calcutta High Court ruling on counting supervision
April 30, 2026
The EC, via the West Bengal chief electoral officer, issued a communication directing that at least one counting supervisor at every counting table be a Central Government or PSU official. On the same day, the Calcutta High Court rejected TMC's plea challenging this directive, ruling that it is the prerogative of the EC to appoint personnel for counting and finding no illegality in the decision.