SC to hear petition on countermanding 2004 W Bengal LS polls

New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court will hear on April 17 a writ petition seeking countermanding of elections held in 35 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal in 2004 for widespread rigging indulged in by Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers.

The petition also sought directions to the Union Home Ministry as well as the Election Commission (EC) to place on record about 200 reports of the poll observers, 87 reports of chief electoral officers and the final report submitted by Mr Afzal Amanullah in May 2005 alleging widespread irregularities, malpractices and corrupt practices including booth capturing indulged in by CPI(M) workers during the elections in the state.

The petitioners have alleged that the Election Commission has not taken any action on the report submitted by Mr Amanullah till date and, therefore, directions should also be issued to EC to file action taken report in the matter before the court.

The petition was mentioned today before a bench comprising Mrs Justice Ruma Pal and Mr Justice Dalveer Bhandari for early hearing but the court, refusing to list the matter for hearing on an early date, said ''let it come in normal course as there was no urgency.'' UNI AKS/SC PK HS1549