Kolkata, Sep 13 (TIWN): The Calcutta High Court on Monday deferred the hearing of a PIL on Bhabanipur by-election for a week. The case will now be heard again on next Monday.

Advocate General Kishore Dutt, appearing for the state, said, "The Election Commission has the power to take the final decision on election matters. The election process cannot be stopped unnecessarily when the polling date has already been announced. The Supreme Court has multiple guidelines in this regard."  Countering Dutta, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, appearing for the plaintiffs, said, "By-election is no longer an issue. What will be a constitutional crisis if there is no election in Bhabanipur? Why such a hurry in conducting elections in Bhabanipur? Is it the crisis of a person?"  In response to Bhattacharya, Justice Bindal asked, "Why did you file the case so late?"  Sabyasachi Chatterjee, appearing for the petitioner, said, "We filed the case as soon as the election was declared."  Bindal then said that the case would be heard again next Monday. He also asked all the concerned parties to file the affidavits.