Calcutta HC Directs Police To Submit Report On Allegations Of A Particular Religious Community Causing Violence During Durga Puja
The Calcutta High Court has directed the police to submit a report on allegations that a particular religious community caused violence while another community was performing Durga Puja.
A petitioner, claiming to be a public spirited citizen, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting an incident during the Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja celebrations in the State of West Bengal which were performed in the month of October, 2024 where a particular religious community allegedly caused violence during the Puja celebrations performed by the other community.
A Division Bench of Justice Shabbar Rashidi and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya directed, “Accordingly, the Superintendents of Police of the concerned districts as well as the Commissioners of Police of the concerned Police Commissionerates who have been impleaded as respondent nos. 11 to 16, are directed to submit a report with regard to steps taken pursuant to the complaints which have been disclosed in this writ petition before the Director General of Police, West Bengal being the fourth respondent on or before November 11, 2024. The Director General of Police shall depute an Additional Director General of Police, who shall collate all such reports submitted before the fourth respondent and file a comprehensive report on or before the next date of hearing.”
Advocate Sudip Sarkar appeared for the petitioner, while AG Kishore Datta represented the respondents.
The petitioner submitted that the alleged acts of violence took place in several districts of the State of West Bengal and complaints were lodged with the local police station as well as before the Superintendents of Police of the concerned districts and Commissioners of Police of concerned Police Commissionerates.
It was further submitted that since the State police did not take any effective steps pursuant to the aforesaid complaints, the investigation should be transferred to an independent and impartial investigating agency.
However, the State raised the issue of maintainability of the petition arguing that the petition was devoid of the necessary particulars and pleadings for transfer of an investigation from one agency to the other.
Consequently, the Court directed the Superintendents of Police of the concerned districts as well as the Commissioners of Police of the concerned Police Commissionerates who were impleaded as respondents to submit a report with regard to steps taken pursuant to the complaints disclosed in the writ petition before the Director General of Police, West Bengal on or before November 11, 2024.
The Bench kept the issue regarding the maintainability of the petition open and to be considered on the next date.
Accordingly, the High Court listed the matter before the regular Bench on November 14, 2024.
Cause Title: Ritu Singh v. State of West Bengal & Ors.
Appearance:
Petitioner: Advocates Sudip Sarkar and Subrata Mondal
Respondents: AG Kishore Datta; AGP Swapan Banerjee; Advocates Sumita Shaw and Diptendu Narayan Banerjee