![\"High](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130504238,imgsize-1650807,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/high-voter-turnout.jpg\" "\\".\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday hailed the record 92 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections as a sign of robust democratic process in the country, after dealing with petitions challenging the special intensive revision, and deploying judicial officers for a fair scrutiny. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi made the remark after TMC MP and senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, a vociferous opponent of SIR, said, “One good thing happened. Record 92% voting happened because all migrant labourers rushed to the state to cast their vote in the fear that if they didn’t, their names would be struck off the electoral roll”. <\/p>\n Justice Bagchi said, \u201cAnother good thing is that there was no violence during the polling, except sporadic incidents.\u201d CJI Kant said, \u201cAs a citizen of India, I was very happy to see the high percentage of voting. People need to participate in voting.\u201dSolicitor general Tushar Mehta, too, said the forces did a commendable job in curbing violence that resulted in high voter turnout. Justice Bagchi cited a Bengali adage to describe earlier violence during the state elections and said, \u201cWhen kings fight, the poor men suffer and die\u201d.CJI Surya Kant said, \u201cPeople must realise the power of their vote in a democracy. More than 92% went to vote. When a large number of people go to vote, there is no violence. That shows people realised that their strength lies in democratic system.\u201dSG Mehta said, \u201cNinety two percent voter turnout is historic. Except for sporadic violence, the forces have done a commendable job. We must be thankful to them. There had been a history of both pre- and post-poll violence in the state.\u201dThe CJI added, \u201cIt shows the fairness of democratic process. In Tamil Nadu also there is high voter turnout.\u201dJustice Bagchi said, \u201cVoting in a democratic process is something which needs to be protected and honoured. Otherwise, the very essence of democracy will be lost.\u201dTurning to senior advocate D S Naidu who represented the Election Commission<\/a>, Justice Bagchi said, \u201cFor change, Naidu\u2019s client is applauded by everyone.\u201d This unexpected compliment for EC was unpalatable to Banerjee, who disagreed and said for the last three days the EC had been lambasted by Calcutta HC. Naidu protested and said Banerjee was being unfair and wrong. \u201cIt is Banerjee who is abusing EC in courts,\u201d he said.Mehta requested the bench to close the proceedings, cautioning that the debate will get reduced to a political discourse by Trinamool. The bench called it a day by asking both Naidu and Banerjee to have lunch together.<\/div>\nPeople must realise the power of their vote: CJI Kant
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