Supreme Court Backs EC Counting Rules

The Supreme Court of India has refused to interfere with the Election Commission’s decision to appoint only central government employees as counting supervisors during elections.
A bench consisting of Justice P. S. Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that the Election Commission’s guidelines must be strictly followed.
This decision is considered a setback for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had challenged the Election Commission’s move.
During the court hearing, Justice Bagchi stated that selecting election officials is the responsibility of the Election Commission.
He also pointed out that every counting table already includes counting agents, supervisors, and observers, which helps maintain fairness and transparency.
The court questioned why there should be concern over the presence of central government employees in the counting process.
Lawyers representing the Election Commission explained that returning officers remain state government employees and are responsible for appointing other election officials.
On the issue of election transparency, senior advocate Kapil Sibal requested that CCTV footage from counting centers should be preserved.
In response, the Election Commission informed the court that CCTV footage will be safely stored for 45 days.
In its final ruling, the Supreme Court clearly stated that the Election Commission’s circular must be followed fully and exactly.
The judgment strengthens the Election Commission’s authority over election management and reinforces the importance of following official guidelines during vote counting.