The Calcutta High Court came down heavily on the ruling TMC government in West Bengal and the district administration on the Sandeshkali assault and land-grabbing incident, stating that the entire district administration and ruling dispensation must owe a moral responsibility. The court reserved its verdict in various pleas seeking a probe into the incidents.
The court was considering the Public Interest Litigations (PIL) seeking an independent probe into the instances of violence allegedly carried out by TMC leader and former Pradhan Shahjahan Sheikh and his henchmen.
One PIL, filed by advocate Priyanka Tibrewal, sought for the investigation to be moved to a court-monitored commission while another sought the probe be handed over to the CBI.
Tibrewal in her petition said that she had personally visited the affected area with her colleagues and they had received complaints from multiple women who were afraid to approach the police due to potential repercussions. The women, however, wanted to raise their voices against the ruling dispensation in the area.
She alleged that all government officials including police officers and land officials were responsible for the failure of the rule of law in the region. Tibrewal also placed affidavits of women who were allegedly affected by the sexual violence before the court.
She claimed that the voluminous files contained more than 100 complaints by women alleging sexual assault, apart from several of alleged land grabbing and other instances of violence and destruction of property. Tibrewal also prayed for the constitution of a committee to look into the complaints by the court and payment of compensation to the victims.
"If they prove a single affidavit is wrong, I will quit my practice forever," said Tibrewal.
To this, a division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam made an oral remark: "The entire district administration and ruling dispensation must owe a moral responsibility. Even if [the affidavit] 1% is true it is absolutely shameful. And West Bengal says it is safest for women? If one affidavit is proved to be right all of this falls."
The hearing also saw Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for the ED seeking the records of all criminal cases against Shiekh to be transferred to the ED. To this, the court directed the AG to place on record the cases against Shahjahan before the Court, after which a call would be taken if it needed to be handed over to the ED.
Another PIL submitted that he was seeking a CBI probe into the issue and the deployment of CRPF personnel "to instil confidence in the people."
The West Bengal government also questioned the conviction rate of central agencies in cases they were probing in the state. Opposing the petition for transfer of investigation, state Advocate General Kishore Dutta claimed before a division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam that central agencies have lost the trust posed on them.
