20 Feb 2024 7:28 AM GMT
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday took exception to the involvement of Shahjahan Sheikh, Pradhan of the Zila Parishad, in the violence that has ensued in the Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal, as well as to the inability of the state police to apprehend him for more than 19 days.
A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya was hearing a plea by the State, against orders of coordinate benches of the High Court, which set aside the imposition of section 144 CrPC orders in the area and permitted LoP Suvendu Adhikari, along with another opposition MLA to visit the area and interact with the aggrieved people.
While refusing to interfere with the aforesaid orders, the Court admitted the appeals and directed Adhikari and the MLA to visit the area in scrupulous adherence to the High Court's orders, and without any of their supporters.
The issues in Sandeshkhali began when a team of ED officials investigating the multi-crore ration scam were attacked when they were en route to conduct a raid on the residence of Sk Shahjahan.
The court in its order took judicial notice of the fact that the problem stood precipitated after the ED conducted a search operation on the premises of Sk Shahjahan. It held:
During the hearing, the bench also pointed to a suo moto motion that had been taken up by a single bench regarding the events unfolding in the area. It was noted that the single-judge's motion was treated as a report by the Chief Justice, who has placed it before the bench dealing with public interest litigations for hearing. It orally remarked:
The person who's the cause of the problem is on the run. We don't know if he's protected but he is unable to be secured. That could mean that state police are not able to secure him, or he is outside their jurisdiction. Let people speak out. Just because people say something, the accused will not become a convict. even if there are a thousand false claims, but one genuine claim, you have to investigate. If you shut them out, that will not work, the Court added.
Notably, the Court had earlier refused urgent listing for a plea which claimed to be for the 'protection' of women affected by the alleged violence in Sandeshkhali.
Order and case details to be uploaded shortly.