Agartala: July 18: The Tripura High Court has dismissed petitions filed by the Left Front and the Congress seeking online filing of nominations for the upcoming panchayat elections and an extension of the nomination deadline. The division bench, comprising Justice Arindam Lodh and Justice SD Purkayastha, delivered the verdict today.
The court, however, directed the state government and the Panchayat Election Commission to ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair, free, and peaceful manner.
Lawyer Purushottam Roy Barman highlighted the widespread violence in the state related to the panchayat elections, stating that opposition candidates are often unable to file their nominations. Despite Congress’s request to the Election Commission for online submission of nominations, the Commission, following legal advice, clarified that it lacked the authority to make such decisions. This responsibility lies solely with the Returning Officers overseeing Panchayat administration.
Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha and the Left Front had filed separate writ petitions in the High Court on this matter. The court’s decision emphasized the limited scope of High Court intervention once the election process has commenced. While the court ordered the state to ensure fair elections, it dismissed the request to extend the nomination deadline.
