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Supreme Court today issued notice in plea seeking SIT probe and constitution of Inquiry Commission against Post Poll violence in the State of West Bengal.

A Division Bench of Justice Vineet Saran and Justice BR Gavai, while hearing the matter, said, “Issue notice and list the matter in the week commencing June .. June 7”

Appearances were made by Senior Advocate Pinky Anand for Arun Mukherjee, the petitioner in the present matter and Advocate J Sai Deepak for a related petition moved by internally displaced persons in the State of West Bengal.

Senior Advocate Pinky Anand submitted, “I’m seeking humanitarian relief in addition to other reliefs sought in the other petition.”

While requesting the bench to implead various commissions such as National Human Right Commission, National Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe and National Commission for Women, submitted that, “Various commissions have provided relief in the relief camps meeting lack of food & shelter. I’d be grateful if your lordship could also ask for their report. The National Commission for Women has taken care of 100 & 200 cases for protection of human rights of women.”

Court thereafter, impleading the parties as requested, directed Senior Advocate Anand to supply the additional documents to the concerned commissions during the day.

“On oral request placed on learned counsel for the petitioner, National Commission for Human Rights, National Commission for Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women & Children be impleaded as Respondent No 5, 6 & 7 & additional documents may be filed.”, the order said.  

The Court issued notice in the plea which sought for;

1. Constitute a Special Investigation Team to investigate cases and the incidents of political violence, targeted killings in the State.
2. Respondents to provide immediate relief to internally displaced persons affected due to post poll violence.
3. Direct Respondent 4 to constitute an Inquiry Commission to assess the scale and causes of exodus from the State.
4. Direct Respondent 4 to setup a helpline number monitored by Central Forces to respond to SOS calls.
5. Directions to set up Fast-track Courts adjudicating the matters pertaining to the prosecution of any individual or organization involved in the commission of heinous offences.

“The Exodus of the people in West Bengal due to state sponsored violence has posed serious humanitarian issues related to their survival, where they are forced to live in deplorable conditions, in violation of their fundamental rights enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India”, the plea states.

“Due to dereliction of duty on part of West Bengal Government and of the Respondents No. 1, 2 and 3, lives of more than eighteen political activists have been lost, many more have been injured, sexual violence against women with opposite political views were committed, loot, arson and destruction of both private and property committed in broad daylight”, adds the plea.

Case Title: Arun Mukherjee v. Chief Secretary, West Bengal | WP (C) No. 568 of 2021