Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has moved the Calcutta High Court, filing a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, alleging "serious misconduct" by a senior Police Observer. The petition, filed by Rajeev Kumar on behalf of the party, claims that the official's actions have compromised the integrity of the ongoing 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections.

The allegation: A breach of neutrality

The petition is directed against Parmar Smit Parshottamdas, an IPS officer appointed by the Election Commission as the Police Observer for four constituencies in the South 24 Parganas district.

According to the synopsis of the writ, Parshottamdas engaged in an undisclosed and unofficial meeting with Gour Ghosh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the 142-Magrahat Paschim Assembly Constituency. The petitioner contends that such an interaction between a high-ranking election monitor and a political candidate violates the strict code of neutrality and independence required for the role.
 

Deviation from protocol

The petition highlights a specific deviation from official protocol regarding the Observer's movements:

Official allotment: Parshottamdas was officially assigned accommodation at the IPS Mess in Alipore.

The incident: It is alleged that on April 20, 2026, the officer instead stayed at the Sagarika Tourist Lodge in Diamond Harbour.

The meeting: The TMC claims the unofficial meeting with the BJP candidate took place at this lodge. The petitioner further asserts that CCTV footage capturing the encounter has been annexed to the petition as evidence.

‘Institutional integrity at stake’

The TMC argues that the Police Observer’s conduct undermines the very foundations of the electoral process. As independent monitors, observers are tasked with ensuring a level playing field; any private engagement with a candidate is presented by the petitioner as a grave breach of duty that erodes public confidence in a free and fair election.

The petition seeks judicial scrutiny to protect the "neutrality, transparency, and institutional integrity" of the Commission's oversight mechanism in West Bengal.

(With ANI inputs)