Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal approached the Supreme Court on Friday with a fresh application seeking immediate intervention regarding the Tripura municipal elections.
Despite the orders of the Supreme Court to provide the media unhindered access to the whole election process at all polling booths in Tripura, Sibal said newspapers and TV channels have said they have been violated. The Supreme Court had ordered deployment of 2 CAPF companies to protect election booths. Sibal said many media representatives were not even allowed to enter polling booths. Nor were CRPF or CAPF personnel were deployed.
Sibal said, “There is complete mayhem! Please take this up in the afternoon today! What has transpired is horrendous! We have the photographs of people showing that the SC order was not followed! It is very serious that is why I am mentioning! Results are to be declared! If today is not possible, please take it up tomorrow though it is a Saturday.”
Even as Sibal approached the Apex Court against violations of Court directives, the Trinamool Congress also sought a stay on the counting of votes cast in the elections held on Thursday since a large number of voters were not allowed to cast their ballots. The party said the directions of the Supreme Court to hold free and fair municipal elections were violated and suggested the setting up of a court-monitored to investigate the charges.
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Yesterday, the Supreme Court bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had directed to ensure security at polling booths with additional CAPF. The bench which also comprised Justice Surya Kant and Justice Vikram Nath had also directed the DGP and the Secretary of Home Department of Tripura to review the security arrangements and to request additional CRPF battalions if needed.
Previously, the bench had refused to postpone the local body elections in a plea by Trinamool Congress. The Trinamool and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had alleged that the members of the ruling BJP had unleashed violence on them and their workers to disrupt the local body elections and the police and administration had colluded with them.