Ready to send forces: Delhi

Adhir Chowdhury at Calcutta High Court on Friday. (Sanjoy Chattapadhayaya)

TT, New Delhi/Calcutta: The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it was ready to send paramilitary forces "if needed" to ensure free and fair panchayat polls in Bengal, terming it a "constitutional obligation".

"If the need arises, we shall provide paramilitary forces to hold peaceful polls. It is a constitutional obligation," additional solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justice R.K. Aggrawal and Justice A.M. Sapre during the hearing of a Bengal BJP plea seeking central forces.

The verdict will be delivered on Monday.

The BJP petition, moved through counsel and former attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi, also sought e-filing of nominations and protection for its candidates.

Bengal counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi strongly opposed central forces. "Panchayat elections are the obligation vested with the state under the Constitution and the Centre has no role," contended Singhvi, also a Congress Rajya Sabha member recently elected with the support of Bengal's ruling Trinamul.

Curiously, the BJP plea did not list the Centre among the respondents, as is the normal practice, and additional solicitor-general Mehta chose to appear in the matter without being made a formal party in the case. The Bengal home secretary, the state police chief, secretary (panchayat), the Election Commission of India, and the Bengal Election Commission have been listed as respondents.

Moving the BJP petition, Rohatgi said: "There is trouble everywhere in the state. Democracy is being murdered. BJP candidates are not able to file nomination papers... Please extend the date for filing nominations. Lordships may also direct deployment of central paramilitary forces." Singhvi said the plea contained "sweeping allegations".

While the matter was heard in Delhi, Calcutta High Court took up a plea by state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seeking central forces. It directed the state election commission to file an affidavit by April 16 specifying the steps taken to check violence. Chowdhury moved his plea in person because of an ongoing cease-work by high court lawyers demanding more judges.