Justice Amrita Sinha of Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered holding the election for the post of chairperson of Jhalda Municipality in Purulia on January 16.

The judge ordered that the election would have to be conducted in the presence of Purulia district magistrate. The judge also directed Purulia district police to ensure that the election was held peacefully.

“The police is directed to keep strict vigil so that each and every councillor of the municipality can vote safely and freely,” the order said.

In the same order, the judge permanently struck down the notification issued by state government on December 2 declaring a Trinamul Councillor as chairperson of the municipality.

On December 2, the urban development and municipal affairs department appointed Trinamul councillor Joba Machuar as temporary chairperson after former chairman and his deputy Suresh Agarwal and Sudip Karmakar, respectively, resigned following their defeat in a no-confidence motion jointly moved by five Congress and two independent councillors on November 21.

The five Congress and two independent councillors termed the government move as “illegal” and elected Sheela Chatterjee as the new chairperson of the civic body.

As the government was adamant to appoint Machuar as the chairman, the Congress moved Calcutta High Court challenging notification.

The judge on December 5 issued an interim stay order on the notification and said the district magistrate would continue to run daily municipal affairs till further order.