Ensure free and fair poll, Supreme Court tells Tripura on TMC plea

NEW DELHI: Taking note of the allegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) that it’s leaders were being prevented from campaigning in the municipal elections in Tripura because of “actual and threatened violence”, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the state government to ensure that right of the political party to participate in election process is not impeded and make all arrangements for free and fair election.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath passed an interim order directing the director general of police and the home secretary of the state to address the grievance raised by TMC and its leaders and take appropriate measures to maintain law and order. The bench noted in its order several incidents of violence which took place after August 2 as pointed out by the petitioner party.
“We accordingly direct the respondents, by way of an ad-interim order, to duly consider the grievance which has been placed before the court in these proceedings, which has been briefly adverted to in the earlier part of this order so that appropriate arrangements are made to ensure the maintenance of law and order in a manner that would further the unimpeded right of political participation in the course of the ensuing municipal elections. As regards the plea for individual security, the concerned superintendents of police who are impleaded as respondents shall take a decision having regard to the threat perception with reference to each case and area and take necessary action for maintenance and provision of security, ” the bench said.