Panchayat poll violence: Bengal Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha’s's lawyer files affidavit

 The Chief Justice asked Sinha’s counsel to hand over copies of the affidavits to the lawyers representing BJP MLA and leader of the Opposition Adhikari and Congress MP and state unit chief Chowdhury for filing their replies

Rajiva Sinha, File image

Tapas Ghosh, TT, Calcutta, 09.01.24 : State election commissioner Rajiva Sinha’s lawyer on Monday filed an affidavit before the division bench of the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court in connection with the contempt case that BJP and Congress leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had filed against Sinha for not allegedly implementing the court’s order on the deployment and use of central forces in last year’s Bengal panchayat elections.

After the two Opposition leaders moved court, the division bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam sought clarification from Sinha for not complying with the court’s directive.

After receiving the affidavit from Sinha’s counsel, the Chief Justice said: “Did he tender an apology or will the court have to scan the issue further?”

Chief Justice further said: “Or the SEC said that he had tried his best to comply with the court’s order but he is ready to tender an apology if some mistakes have been committed?”

The Chief Justice asked Sinha’s counsel to hand over copies of the affidavits to the lawyers representing BJP MLA and leader of the Opposition Adhikari and Congress MP and state unit chief Chowdhury for filing their replies.

The matter will come up for hearing in the court again in mid-February.