Overview
The Supreme Court has been approached through a PIL filed by Aditya Das. The petition challenges the Election Commission of India's decision to name Ajay Pal Sharma, a IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, as an Election Observer for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026.
Key Developments
- The petition alleges that Officer Sharma is "highly partisan" and has threatened candidates, violating the neutral role envisaged under Representation of the People Act, 1951 Section 20B.
- The petitioner seeks a court order to set aside the appointment and to ensure observers remain independent.
- Two days earlier, the BJP West Bengal unit praised Sharma as an "encounter specialist" and claimed he read the riot act to a TMC candidate’s family.
- The Calcutta High Court declined to entertain a similar challenge, citing non‑interference in the ongoing poll process.
Important Facts
- Case title: Aditya Das v. Election Commission, Diary No. 26135/2026.
- Appointment made by the ECI for the South 24 Parganas constituency.
- Videos of Sharma issuing warnings to the candidate’s relatives have circulated on social media, intensifying poli