KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the State Election Commission to consider postponing the civic polls in four municipal corporations for a period of four to six weeks in the wake of the surge in Covid cases across the state. The court also asked the state poll panel to take a decision in this regard within 48 hours.
The court was hearing a PIL seeking postponement of municipal elections in Bidhannagar, Chandernagore, Asansol and Siliguri. The elections to the four civic bodies are slated to be held on January 22.
In the order, the court observed, “We dispose of the present petition with a direction to the State Election Commission to consider the galloping speed with which the Covid cases are increasing and also examine whether holding elections in such a situation will be in the public interest and free and fair elections will be possible on the dates notified.”