The Supreme Court today allowed the Centre to withdraw seven of the 15 companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) from strife-torn Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal for being used for election duties in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. <br/><br/>A bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, asked West Bengal government to respond within a week to the Centre's appeal against the Calcutta High Court order directing it to allow all 15 companies of paramilitary forces to remain in the state.<br/><br/>The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, stayed the pending proceedings before the Calcutta High Court saying it will deal with the case in a holistic manner.The apex court has now fixed the appeal of the Centre for<br/>further hearing on 27th of next month.<br/>'<br/><br/>The Calcutta High Court had on 17th of this month stayed the withdrawal of CAPF from the Darjeeling hills, the scene of unrest over the statehood demand, till today's date after the state government approached it against the Centre's decision . <br/>'<br/><br/>The West Bengal government had written to the Centre seeking extended deployment of CAPF till December 25th.

Supreme Court today allowed the Centre to withdraw seven companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces from Darjeeling in West Bengal. The apex court has also stayed proceedings before Calcutta High Court on retaining central forces in strife-torn districts. It has sought West Bengal B govt's reply on Centre's plea. <br/>' <br/>The Centre had on 16th of this month decided partial withdrawal of central forces from the Darjeeling hill area of West Bengal, which was resented by the state government. The Calcutta High Court had very next day stayed the withdrawal of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces, CAPF, from Darjeeling hills till today.