The Supreme Court on Tuesday has called upon the state of Tripura to submit by 12:45 PM a statement, signed by the DGP and the Home Secretary, detailing the security arrangements put in place for the municipal elections scheduled on November 25, from today which is the last day of campaigning to the polling day, to the counting day, to the declaration of results and the post-poll security.
Addressing Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, for the state Justice Chandrachud observed, “We will keep this matter at 12:45. We will give you an hour and a half. We want you to take very detailed instructions from the DGP and the Home Secretary about the specific arrangements which have been made, who is in charge of security, what specific arrangements are being made today and then tomorrow for the security of the polling booth, other staff, etc the arrangements for the polling day, the safety right up to the declaration of results, the post-poll security. We would like you to do two things- prepare this and share it on the email with the Court Master. Then you share it with us on the screen at 12:45 so that the counsel for the petitioners also have the benefit of seeing it on the screen. Then we will see what has to be done thereafter. But we would like you to make a statement and share it on the screen so that we can make it a part of the order as to what steps you are taking for Today’s campaigning, the pre-poll process and the poll process leading to the counting and declaration of votes. Take detailed instructions from the DGP and the Home Secretary and let it be signed and scanned and sent to you.”
Show us what steps you are taking to ensure free and fair elections between today till the declaration of the results? What steps are you going to take and what steps have been taken so far?”, asked Justice Chandrachud.
The judge also asked about the presence of the central paramilitary forces in the state, noting that one segment of the Central armed paramilitary forces can be deputed in those areas which are critical areas.
A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and Vikram Nath was hearing a contempt petition filed by All India Trinamool Congress and its Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev alleging non-compliance on the part of Tripura authorities of the order passed by the Supreme Court on November 11 to ensure free and safe atmosphere for political campaigning for the local body elections scheduled on November 25. The AITC, on Tuesday, suggested that in view of the law and order situation, the election may be postponed.
Justice Chandrachud expressly told Mr. Jethmalani to not respond to this submission as of now.
