The West Bengal government today hailed the Calcutta High Court order on panchayat elections as "historic."
"This is a historic order of the hon'ble High Court and we are very happy," state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee told PTI.
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court today rejected the State Election Commission (SEC) order for 800 companies of central forces to man the panchayat polls, and directed that the election be held in three phases and the process be completed by July 15.
The minister said the state government would now finalise the panchayat poll schedule as per the court's order.
"A deep-rooted conspiracy was on to disrupt the panchayat poll by the CPI(M), the Congress and the BJP and the court order has busted such a plot," Mukherjee alleged.
In its order, the court has also directed that the poll date be notified by the state government in consultation with the SEC.
