The Supreme Court of India today said that no further order was required on the plea filed by the All India Trinamool Congress challenging the dismissal of its petition by the Calcutta High Court. The petition was against a circular issued by the Election Commission of India on deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in West Bengal.

A special bench of Justices P. S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the Election Commission is empowered to choose counting personnel, and its April 13 circular cannot be termed incorrect.

The Election Commission told the court that the circular clearly provides for a mix of central and state government employees. It said the apprehension of the Trinamool Congress regarding any wrongdoing is misplaced and assured that the circular will be implemented in letter and spirit.

The bench, which held a special sitting, said the Commission can also choose counting personnel from a single pool, including central government staff, and its circular cannot be faulted.

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly was held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had dismissed the TMC’s petition, stating that there was no illegality in the Election Commission’s decision to appoint counting supervisors and assistants from central government and Public Sector Undertaking employees instead of state government staff.