BIKASH RATH Vs. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners have challenged the communication dtd. 19/9/2025, issued by the District Magistrate, District Election Officer, District- Medinipur East to the Head of the Office (Manager), Balageria Central Cooperative Bank Limited, Contai Branch, to update of office information and Employee Data for General Election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly (WBLA) 2026 on the portal emms.wb.gov.in for preparation of election personnel database.

(2.) The petitioners are the employees of the Balageria Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. serving in different categories.

(3.) The petitioners have raised the issue that the petitioners being the employees of the registered Cooperative Bank, is an autonomous Cooperative Entity governed by its own Bye-laws and an elected management do not fall within any category of authorities, whose employees/staffs may be requisitioned for election duty and consequently, they cannot be summoned or deployed for election related work, and their names cannot be uploaded or included on any Government portal or website for the said purposes.