High Court rejects plea to call off NHRC probe into West Bengal post-poll violence

Tribune News Service
Kolkata, June 21

The Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by the West Bengal Government seeking recall of the High Court’s June 18 order by which it had directed the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to constitute a committee to examine complaints by victims of post-poll violence in West Bengal.

Rights body forms 7-member probe panel

Those on the NHRC probe panel are: NHRC member Rajiv Jain; Atif Rasheed, Vice-Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities; Dr Rajulben L Desai, member, National Commission for Women; Santosh Mehra, DG (Investigation), NHRC; PK Panja, Registrar, WB Human Rights Commission; Raju Mukherjee, member Secretary, West Bengal State Legal Services Authority; and Manzil Saini, DIG (Investigation), NHRC. TNS

A five-judge Bench headed by acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal said it could not sit in appeal over its own orders and the state could place its contentions before the NHRC.

Didi moves SC against HC order in Narada case

New Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has moved the SC challenging the Calcutta HC’s denial for filing of affidavits by her and state Law Minister Moloy Ghatak on their role on the day of arrest of four TMC leaders on May 17 by the CBI in connection with the Narada sting case. PTI

“We do not find any case made out for recalling, modification or stay of order passed by this court on June 18,” the court said in its order today. The way the state was proceeding in the matter, which required immediate action, did not inspire confidence,” the court further said in the order.

The Bengal Government had sought recall of the June 18 order on the ground that it was not heard and adequate opportunity was not given to place all facts on record, including the steps taken by the state government to address the issues related to post-poll violence.

The High Court had on June 18 noted that while the state government has been denying instances of post-poll violence from the very beginning, the petitions filed by certain affected parties and a report submitted by the State Legal Services Secretary in this regard painted a different picture.

The court then directed the NHRC to constitute a committee to examine the complaints. The committee shall examine all cases by visiting the areas and report to the court about steps to be taken to reinstate the confidence of the people.

The order was passed on a bunch of petitions alleging that many people from opposition were subject to violence after the TMC won the elections.