'Will Add To Transparency In The Election Process': Calcutta HC Directs State Election Commission To Install CCTV Cameras In All Polling Booths During Kolkata Municipal Elections

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the West Bengal State Election Commission to install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all the main and auxiliary polling booths as also in strong room where EVMs will be kept during the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation Election.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation election is scheduled to be held on December 19.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj was adjudicating upon a plea moved by Devdutta Maji, a Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP) worker seeking directions to get all the 4842 main and 365 additional auxiliary polling booths under CCTV surveillance on the day of polling as also the strong room where EVMs will be kept till the date of counting.

"Having regard to the fact that installation of CCTV cameras will add to transparency in the election process..the present petition is disposed of by directing the respondent Nos.2 and 3 to act in accordance with the statement made before this Court and provide CCTV cameras in all the main and auxiliary polling booths as also in strong room where EVMs will be kept in the forthcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation Election", the order read.

During the proceedings, the counsel appearing for the State Election Commission submitted that presently the provision has been made to have the CCTV cameras in 25 per cent polling booth, but Commission has no difficulty in accepting the petitioner's payer for installing the CCTV cameras in all the main as well as auxiliary booths and also in the strong room where the EVMs will be kept.

Accordingly, the petition was disposed of. 

In a related development, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition filed by Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking deployment of Central Forces for the Kolkata Municipal Elections, by asking the party to approach the Calcutta High Court for such relief. 

"We cannot take decisions with respect to the requirement of Central force. High Court will be in a better position to know the situation", the bench comprising Justices L Nagesara Rao and BR Gavai told Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, who was appearing for the BJP.  

Case Title: Devdutta Maji @ Devdutta Majhi v. State of West Bengal and others

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