India, May 4 -- The Supreme Court on Monday declined to urgently entertain a plea seeking continued deployment of central forces in West Bengal in view of apprehensions of post-poll violence, observing that maintaining law and order squarely falls within the domain of the political executive. With counting of votes underway for the assembly elections, the court said it expected the state machinery to discharge its responsibilities without the need for judicial intervention.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that no judicial order by the top court was warranted at this stage. "Let the state be run by political executives. They will decide. We expect they understand their responsibi...