New Delhi/IBNS, May 2 -- In a fresh setback to West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Supreme Court of India on Saturday disposed of the party's petition challenging the deployment of central government employees at vote counting centres across the state, according to media reports.

The TMC had approached the apex court contesting a decision by the Election Commission of India, after facing a similar setback in the Calcutta High Court.

During the hearing, the top court questioned the rationale behind the plea, observing that there was no substantive distinction between central and state government personnel in the context of election duty.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was representing the TMC, referred to the ECI circul...