Calcutta HC criticises EC over reassignment of election symbol to contesting parties in Nandigram bypoll
The Calcutta High Court expressed concerns regarding the Election Commission's decision to reassign the 'envelope' symbol. Justice Krishna Rao questioned the rationale behind this decision, citing an abundance of available symbols. The court is hearing a petition from the Indian Secular Front challenging the reassignment amid upcoming bypolls. The bypoll for the Nandigram assembly seat is scheduled for October 6.
Kolkata, The Calcutta High Court on Thursday came down heavily on the Election Commission over reassignment of the 'envelope' symbol to the newly formed Democratic Trinamool Congress from the ISF, observing that the poll panel should act fairly . Noting that there are 183 free election symbols at the disposal of the EC, the court asked what was the reason for the Commission to give away the 'envelope' symbol to a party contesting the by-election in West Bengal's Nandigram, where the ISF has also fielded its candidate.The court verbally observed that the symbol should have been kept reserved.
The authority should act fairly, Justice Krishna Rao observed.The high court adjourned hearing in the matter until Friday on a prayer by the EC's counsel for taking instruction on why a notification was not issued for allotment of symbols for the bypolls.Justice Rao asked why the EC was creating a dispute by allotting the 'envelope' symbol to the new party. Your authority is pinching the persons and creating legal proceedings; is this the way of the authority to work?
Justice Rao told the EC's lawyer during the hearing of the ISF petition, challenging the reassignment of the 'envelope' symbol. Every time for one reason or another you are compelling the persons to come to court, he observed.The EC's counsel stated that the choice is upon the petitioners who contest the elections to choose a symbol, a claim which the petitioner's lawyer contested, saying it is the commission that finally allots the symbol.Bypoll to the Nandigram assembly seat, vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, is scheduled for October 6.