A single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha, in its order, said that the definition of contractual employees will include Anganwadi workers, para-teachers and citizen volunteers.

Justice Sinha also directed the ECI to ensure that the deployment of people for the counting process is done strictly following the norms specified in the rules made by the election panel.

BJP candidate from Howrah Lok Sabha constituency, Rathin Chakraborty, had filed a petition in the High Court alleging that some contractual employees attached to Howrah Municipal Corporation and Bally Municipality were assigned counting duties in violation of the commission's norms.

His counsel argued that the ECI should ensure that its notification ordering counting duties only to permanent state government employees is strictly followed.

However, the commission's counsel argued that there was no specific instance or evidence to show that counting duties were assigned to any contractual state government employee.

After hearing both the sides, Justice Sinha directed the Commission to ensure that no contractual employee is assigned counting duty on Tuesday.