JUDGMENT :

(T.S. Sivagnanam, J.)

1. Since the reliefs sought for in both the writ petitions are identical, they were heard together and are disposed of by this common judgment and order. The petitioners have filed these writ petitions as public interest litigation praying for issuance of writ of mandamus to declare the West Bengal Panchayat Election, 2023 as void because of non-compliance of basic principles of Constitution and the statute to ensure free and fair elections; for issuance of a direction for an independent agency to investigate into the affairs of filing of nomination of candidates belonging to the ruling party in an abnormally short span of time i.e. 76000 nominations in two days including filing of nominations by persons who are not in India; to declare that the present State Election Commissioner is incapable of conducting election independently and to remove him from his post and be replaced by an independent person. The petitioners have prayed for other reliefs which are incidental and ancillary to the main relief.

2. Mr. Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the petitioner submitted that in many cases the candidates were prevented from f