HC asks SEC to file affidavit on steps taken during civic poll

The Calcutta High Court today directed West Bengal State Election Commission to file an affidavit stating the steps it had taken to ensure free and fair elections in recently-held municipal polls.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi directed SEC to file an affidavit within 6 weeks stating the steps it had taken to ensure free and fair elections.
Elections were held last month to 91 municipalities and Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
An NGO moved a PIL before the high court alleging that large-scale violence had occurred during the elections and prayed for steps to ensure that free and fair elections were held in future.

The petitioner cited reports in some newspapers that claimed that violence had occurred during the civic elections.
The bench also directed the petitioner to file an affidavit in reply within another two weeks.
The matter would appear for hearing again after eight weeks, the court directed.