Supreme Court Upholds EC Vote Counting

The India — Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea by India — Trinamool Congress challenging the India — Election Commission of India's circular on the deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in India — West Bengal. The court upheld the India — Election Commission of India's discretion in appointing counting personnel, stating that its April 13 circular, which provides for a mix of central and state government employees, was not incorrect. This decision affirmed an earlier ruling by the India — Calcutta High Court, which had also dismissed India — Trinamool Congress's petition. The India — Election Commission of India assured the India — Supreme Court of India that the circular would be implemented in letter and spirit, ensuring the presence of state government employees during the counting of votes on May 4. India — Trinamool Congress had raised concerns about the timing of the circular's disclosure and alleged potential irregularities, but these were rejected by the courts.