West Bengal post-poll violence: Calcutta HC rejects govt plea to halt investigation

The Calcutta High Court rejected the West Bengal government's plea for recalling its earlier order that directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to examine all cases of alleged human rights violations in post-assembly poll violence in the state.

Dismissing the Bengal government's plea today, a five-judge bench of the High Court, headed by acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal, observed that its June 18 order was passed after the state failed to inspire the court's confidence.

The bench, also comprising Justices Soumen Sen, Subrata Talukdar, IP Mukerji, and Harish Tandon, said the High Court does not find any occasion to modify or stay its earlier ruling.

The West Bengal government claimed that they were not given adequate opportunity to place all facts on record, including the steps taken by the state government to address the issues that lead to post-poll violence.

The high court said it had to involve the NHRC because there were allegations that the state police is not taking action.

It said the rights body had merely been told to file a report and that the government should not have any objection to it.

"Your conduct, in this case, does not inspire the confidence of this court," the acting Chief Justice said during the hearing.

The bench had passed the order on June 18, taking note of a report submitted by the Member Secretary of West Bengal State Legal Services Authority which said that 3,243 persons were reported to be affected till noon of June 10.

The Member Secretary of WBSLSA further mentioned that in several cases the complaints were referred to the Superintendents of Police or the police stations concerned but no response was received.

The high court order came on PILs which alleged political attacks have led to the displacement of people from their residences, physical assault, destruction of property, and ransacking of offices.