Bengal panchayat polls: SC stays online nomination

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a Calcutta High court order asking the Bengal state election commission to accept  nominations for its Panchayat polls filed through e-mail.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, and also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, held, ''Panchayat elections will go on as per the earlier schedule.'' 

State panchayat elections are to be held tentatively on 14th May.The apex court, however, asked the SEC not to issue notification declaring these results till July 3, the next date of hearing in the case. 

Making it clear that the Bengal State Election Commission and the state government will ensure free and fair polls during the Panchayat elections, the apex court said it did not appreciate the Calcutta HC order introducing e-mail filing and acceptance of nominations. 

However, it also ruled that so many seats going unopposed to one party was worrisome.(UNI)