State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha Faces Contempt Case Over Panchayat Election; Court Seeks Apology

The lawyer for state election commissioner Rajiva Sinha filed an affidavit before the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court's division bench on Monday. This was in relation to the contempt case that Sinha was facing from leaders of the BJP and Congress, Suvendu Adhikari and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, for allegedly failing to follow the court's directive regarding the use and deployment of central forces during the Bengal panchayat elections last year.

Following the two opposition leaders' court filing, the Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam-led division bench questioned Sinha on why he had disregarded the court's order.

The Chief Justice questioned, "Did he tender an apology or will the court have to scan the issue further?" upon receipt of the affidavit from Sinha's attorney.

And the SEC said that he had done his utmost to follow the court's decision, but he is prepared to offer an apology if errors have been made? the Chief Justice continued.

The Chief Justice instructed Sinha's attorney to provide copies of the affidavits to the attorneys for Congress MP and state unit head Chowdhury, as well as BJP MLA and leader of the opposition Adhikari, so they may file their responses.

The court will hear the case once again in the middle of February.