The Calcutta High Court has made adjustments to its previous ruling regarding restrictions on motorcycle usage before the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. The court, comprising Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta, has expanded the ban beyond motorbike rallies to include group riding on two-wheelers on polling day and the two days leading up to it. This means that riding motorcycles in groups will be prohibited from April 27 to April 29.
The decision follows an appeal by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) against a directive issued by a single-judge bench on April 24. The initial ruling had overturned a notification by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that imposed a blanket ban on motorcycle usage during specific hours before polling, arguing that such restrictions were overly broad and unfairly impacted citizens who rely on two-wheelers for daily transportation. While acknowledging the need to prevent violence, the court had allowed for certain restrictions, including banning motorbike rallies two days before polling and regulating motorcycle use on polling day.
In response to the CEO’s appeal, the division bench emphasized the importance of security and peaceful voting processes. As a result, the court modified the earlier directions to prohibit both motorbike rallies and group riding during the two days preceding polling day. However, the remaining restrictions outlined by the single judge remained unchanged.
