TRIPURA POLLS

of law enforcing agencies, are to be duly dealt with in accordance with law.

It directed the director general of police (DGP) and the inspector general (law and order) to hold a joint meeting with the state election commission by Wednesday morning “for the purpose of assessing the availability of sufficient strength of paramilitary forces drawn from the CRPF (Central Police Reserve Force) for ensuring peaceful conduct of the remaining phases of the elections”.

The top court said that after making an assessment of the situation on the ground, if so required, a requisition shall be submitted to the CRPF or as the case may be to the Union ministry of home affairs.

“Any such request shall be duly considered having regard to the situation and in the interest of ensuring peace, security and orderly conduct of elections in the state of Tripura on November 25, 2021,” it said.

The bench said the DGP and the IGP shall take all steps to ensure that the election process is conducted in peace and orderly manner and without any disruptions, particularly on the date of polling leading up to the counting of ballots on November 28.

“Since serious grievance have been raised on behalf of the petitioners by the counsel that despite the lodging of FIR, no action has been taken by law enforcing agencies, the respondents (Tripura government and the police) shall submit before this court a tabulated statement of the complaints which have been lodged, FIR which have been registered; action which have been taken and arrests that have been made,” the bench said.

It said the tabulated statement will be submitted together with the compliance affidavits which have already been directed to be filed by the court in its previous order dated November 11. “While we are not inclined to accede to the prayer for postponing of the elections, we are equally of the view that it is the duty of DGP and IGP and the home secretary of Tripura to assuage any misgiving about the fairness of the law enforcing machinery in supporting the electoral process,” it said.

The top court said the law enforcement agencies must discharge their duties even handed and in non-partisan manner to obviate the grievance which have been raised before this court that candidates and supporters of the TMC are unfairly targeted by contesting political groups.

“When a compliance affidavit is filed before this court, it shall contain a detailed elaboration of steps which have been taken with regard to law and order to ensure security for the contesting candidates and protect the electoral process from any kind of taint leading upto the counting of votes and declaration of results,” it said.

Senior advocates Jaideep Gupta and Gopal Shankaranaryanan, who were representing the TMC, said that they have filed an application for appointment of an independent observer in the state for free and fair conduct of elections.

The bench said, “Let us see what happens in two days and we would then consider it on November 25. We have given our mind to the law enforcing machinery and on November 25, we will see what else could be done”.

Earlier in the day, the bench sought to know from senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who was representing the Tripura government, about the paramilitary force deployment and whether any more Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) can be requisitioned, for deployment in critical areas. Jethmalani submitted a statement filed by state DGP VS Yadav and IGP Arindam Nath giving the details of force deployment. The bench noted the position and said that three battalions of CRPF comprising 18 companies (nine sections per company) are deployed in the tate for field duty.

On November 11, the top court had directed the Tripura government to ensure that no political party, including TMC, in the fray for local body polls of the state is prevented from pursuing electoral rights in accordance with law and from campaigning in a peaceful and orderly manner.

It had issued notice to the state government on the plea by TMC and its Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev seeking security for the party workers and representatives alleging wide scale violence against them.

This followed an attack on the residence of the party’s Tripura unit leader Subal Bhowmik in Agartala on Sunday.

CM

“Noida International airport will be completed as per the scheduled deadline of 2024 and create huge opportunities in the state thereby changing the business dynamics in this region,” the CM said while briefing the media after the meeting.

He said that UP already had airports in Lucknow and Varanasi. “We have also started work at Kushinagar and in Ayodhya. Now, Jewar will be fifth International airport in UP boosting growth,” he said.

The CM further said, “We are developing a film city near airport, defence corridor to boost manufacturing in Aligarh. Besides, electronic city, dedicated freight corridor and other infrastructure projects are being expedited to put the state on the path of development.”

Earlier, Yogi reached Ranhera at 4:30pm, inspected the event site and held a meeting with Noida International Airport Limited, police, administrative officials and senior party leaders before leaving.

Party’s top brass has also directed local MLAs, MPs and other leaders in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr and Aligarh among other districts to get in touch with workers for a ‘grand show’ at airport foundation stone laying ceremony.

Yogi also took a meeting with UP civil aviation minister Nand Gopal Nandi, BJP state president Swatanra Dev Singh, western UP BJP regional president Mohit Beniwal among other leaders and discussed preparations for the foundation laying event with them.

BENCH SAID DGP AND IGP SHALL TAKE ALL STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE ELECTION PROCESS IS CONDUCTED IN PEACE AND ORDERLY MANNER

YOGI REACHED RANHERA AT 4:30PM, INSPECTED THE EVENT SITE AND HELD A MEETING