The Calcutta High Court has said that that the state government of West Bengal should have made sure of the arrangements before permitting Ram Navami processions in areas which previously witnessed violence.
A Bench comprising of the Acting Chief Justice T Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya the State to deploy adequate police forces in the affected regions so as to ensure there is no more violence.
ACJ Sivagnanam told Advocate General SN Mookherjee to ensure that State deploys adequate police force in these areas and ensures that general public, the schools and shop owners etc aren’t affected by the violence.
The Court said this while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that was filed by BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari who asked for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the violence which happened in Howrah and Dalkhola areas during Ram Navami celebrations.
AG Mookherjee during the hearing told the Bench that the situation in Howrah and Dalkhola districts is under control.
The counsel representing Suvendu Adhikari however informed the Court that internet is still suspended in these two districts along with the areas adjoining Hooghly area.
ACJ Sivagnanam after hearing this asked the Attorney General if the situation was really under control as the suspension of internet is done in extreme cases.The ACJ also asked for filing a report on this.
The AG Mookherjee informed that internet has been restored in Hooghly. He also requested the Court for giving permission to show certain videos, indicating how weapons were brandished by those participating in the procession.
The AG agreed that there were several violations of the permissions granted by the authorities as there was use of weapons, firearms. DJ was being played beyond permissible decibels.
He also said that in one case there was a deviation from the permitted route.The AG agreed to file an affidavit and also a report on this.
The Counsel of Adhikari countered that there was no deviation from the route, and that the conditions on which permission was granted, were followed.
The Counsel clearly mentioned that some of the places where violence broke out on March 30 this year witnessed similar violence even last year as well.
Hearing the matter, the ACJ said that in that case the State should have been more careful in permitting rallies in such places that witnessed violence even last year.
The ACJ also asked if there were violations of the permission, why didn’t the Police stop the rally there and then?”
AG Mookerjee, asked for time to respond to the queries of the Bench and for filing complete report on the action taken in this issue. He pointed out that over 35 arrests have already been made.
The counsel for Adhikari pointed mentioned that they have made representations to the Governor and also the Union Home Ministry to intervene into issue, and claimed that the State Police had miserably failed in controlling the situation.
The matter will be heard next on April 6.
The post Calcutta High Court pulls up West Bengal government for inadequate arrangements leading to violence during Ram Navami processions appeared first on India Legal.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
Please don't enter any spam link in comment box ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon