A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking the immediate removal of Ajay Pal Sharma, a senior IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, from his role as a police observer amid the election battle in West Bengal.
The petitioner filed a motion under Article 32 of the Constitution, which allows citizens to appeal directly to the Supreme Court with the protection of fundamental rights, arguing in this case that it is a free and fair election.
What did the petitioner claim?
The petitioner alleged that Sharma, often nicknamed the ‘Singham of UP’ for his record as an encounter specialist, had abandoned the neutrality required of an Election Commission (ECI) observer.
The plea alleged that since taking charge in South 24 Parganas, Sharma had engaged in “acts of intimidation” and “undue influence”, specifically targeting political candidates.
The petition claimed his presence was “corrupting the electoral environment” and undermining public confidence in the fairness of the 2026 assembly elections.
The cause of action further alleges instances of intimidation, undue influence and bias, which it claims undermined the level playing field required during the election.
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They argue that such behavior undermines the fundamental objective of sending observers, who are expected to act as neutral constitutional functionaries to promote the integrity of the electoral process.
Citing provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the petition states that observers are appointed to independently monitor the elections and ensure that democratic standards are followed. Any deviation from that role, he argues, undermines public confidence in the system.
The petitioner urged the apex court to take cognizance of the matter and issue necessary directions to ensure the fairness of the ongoing election process.
Prayagraj ACP, who earned the nickname “Singham” for his crackdown on criminals, faced protests from Trinamool Congress supporters who hoisted “Jai Bangla” outside the residence as well as the election office of local TMC candidate Jahangir Khan, officials said, as reported by PTI.
Who is Ajay Sharma?
Ajay Pal Sharma is a 2011 batch IPS officer.He originally trained as a dental surgeon before leaving the medical profession to join the civil services.
He has served in several districts of Uttar Pradesh including Rampur, Shamli, Jaunpur and Hathras and is currently posted in Prayagraj as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police. Born in Ludhiana, Punjab, he is a UP cadre officer.
During his career, he received police medals in 2017 and 2025.
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According to a Times of India report, Ajay Pal Sharma has reportedly been involved in more than 500 police encounters during his career, including 136 in 22 months. The report also said that during the operation to trace Jahangir Khan’s residence, both locals and some policemen were reportedly hesitant to share information due to security concerns, though Sharma’s team eventually found the address.
It further states that Sharma has raised questions about the security arrangements at Khan’s residence, claiming that four more personnel than required under his “category Y” protection have been deployed. He also reportedly lodged a report with the local police inspector seeking an explanation.
West Bengal Assembly Elections
The campaign for the second and final phase of Bengal’s assembly elections has come to an end as 142 constituencies go to polls in the second phase on April 29.
The state saw a massive 93.2% voter turnout in the first phase of the election, a record number that saw both the TMC and the BJP claim a decisive lead.
Read also | West Bengal exit poll: Here’s what pollsters predicted for 2021 elections
The high voter turnout underscored the active election exercise as voting drew to a close amid tight security in all constituencies.
The results will be declared on May 4 along with Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
(With input from agencies)
Key things
- Public interest litigation can serve as a tool to address concerns about electoral integrity.
- The role of election observers is essential to maintain a neutral environment for fair elections.
- Allegations of bias and intimidation can significantly affect public perception and confidence in the electoral process.
