The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday rejected the West Bengal State Election Commission's demand for 800 companies of central forces for security during the panchayat elections.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Arun Mishra, also said that the election date has to be notified by the state in consultation with the SEC.

The elections should be held in three phases, and the entire process should be completed by July 1, the bench said.The term of the current self-governing bodies runs out on June 10.

Mamata Banerjee's Trinamul Congress government has been locked in a battle with the election commission headed by Mira Pande over a range of issues.The government did not feel the need to requisition central forces, and had wanted the elections to be held in two phases, at most.

It had also said it has the right to decide the election dates. The dispute landed in the courts.