The Calcutta High Court has sought a detailed report from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the condition of polling booth infrastructure in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul issued the direction. Justice Partha Sarathi Sen heard the public interest litigation on inadequate polling facilities.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s West Bengal president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya filed the petition.
He raised concerns over poor infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote polling locations.
During the hearing, the bench observed that it could not issue substantive directions without hearing the Election Commission’s response.
The court therefore asked the poll body to submit a comprehensive report outlining the steps taken to maintain and upgrade polling booth facilities.
The judges stated that ensuring proper infrastructure at polling stations falls primarily within the Election Commission’s mandate.
They noted that the ECI has the authority to issue necessary instructions to the state government to address any shortcomings.
The court specifically asked the Commission to clarify what initiatives it has undertaken to ensure compliance with prescribed standards for polling booths across West Bengal.
The court will hear the matter again next week.
The Election Commission has laid down clear norms regarding minimum infrastructure requirements at polling booths nationwide.
These include assured minimum facilities (AMF) and extended minimum facilities (EMF), which cover basic amenities for voters and election staff.
Despite these guidelines, voters in West Bengal have repeatedly complained that several polling stations fail to meet even basic standards.
Such concerns have been particularly prominent in rural areas.
In preparation for the Assembly polls, the state Chief Electoral Officer had proposed appointing state-run Mackintosh Burn Limited as the implementing agency for maintaining polling booth infrastructure.
The public sector undertaking initially agreed to undertake the responsibility.
However, it later conveyed its inability to execute the task, leaving the infrastructure plan uncertain.
With elections approaching, the High Court’s intervention has placed renewed focus on polling preparedness and administrative accountability in the state.
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