The West Bengal Government’s decision to impose fresh taxes to bail out investors in the Saradha deposits scam had an interesting fallout in its ongoing litigation with the State Election Commission (SEC) on holding Panchayat polls.

In its submission to the Calcutta High Court, the State Government on Thursday cited paucity of funds as a reason for opposing the SEC’s demand for central paramilitary force deployment during the polls.

The claim, however, invited a query by the Court on the priority of the Government. “Every day in the newspapers there is talk of new taxes, so why not taxes for holding elections?... If the resource or lack of resource can hinder holding of free, fair and peaceful elections, why not impose taxes on citizens as it is in their interest,” Justice Biswanath Somadder said.

Underlining that a crisis of funds should not hinder holding of free and fair polls, the Judge asked, “Is your (State Government’s) priority something else?” He added that the State Government should have ‘clarity’ in this regard.

The SEC had moved the Court as the State Government was dragging its feet on election schedule as well as deployment of 800 companies of central paramilitary forces.

In its petition, the Commission also challenged the Constitutional validity of provisions in the West Bengal Panchayat Elections Act, 2003.

> ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics