Calcutta High Court refuses to stay Bhawanipur by-election in Bengal

(PTI) Kolkata, Ta. 3

The Calcutta High Court had refused to stay the September 30 by-elections to the Bhawanipur assembly constituency in West Bengal. However, the High Court had directed the Chief Secretary of Bengal, H.S. That. Dwivedi was slapped.

Mamata Banerjee is contesting from Bhawanipur assembly constituency in West Bengal. "We do not want to interfere in the decision of the Election Commission to hold elections in Bhawanipur at this stage," the Calcutta High Court said in a petition seeking postponement of the polls, alleging that the Bengal Chief Secretary had misled the Election Commission. However, Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal had strongly objected to the letter written by Bengal Chief Secretary Dwivedi to the Election Commission.

The High Court directed the Chief Secretary of Bengal, H.S. That. Dwivedi was slapped. Chief Secretary Dwivedi had written a letter to the Election Commission to hold by-elections in Bhawanipur as soon as possible to avoid a constitutional crisis. Petitioner Fayan Sinha alleged that the Election Commission had decided to hold early elections in the state due to a "misleading" letter from the Chief Secretary.

The High Court noted that Chief Secretary Dwivedi had given false information in paragraph 6 of his letter to the Election Commission. "Corona's condition in the state is under control," he wrote to the commission. This information was in stark contrast to reality. He further misled the Election Commission about the flood situation in the state. "In fact, everyone knows that there has been torrential rain in the state," the high court said.