PIL Filed Before Calcutta HC Regarding Post Poll Violence In West Bengal

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Calcutta High Courthasasked Mamta Banerjee’s Government to file an affidavit before the court within 3 days relating to the law and order situation in West Bengal.
• The public interest litigation (PIL)in reference is Anindya Sundar Das v. Union of India & Others[WPA (P) 143 of 2021] that was recently filed before the Calcutta High Court.
• The petition was filed by advocate Anindya Sundar Das, who was aggrieved by the post-poll violence in the State.
• This PIL was initially heard by the division bench of the Calcutta High Court but later a larger bench was formed to hear this petition.

BACKGROUND DETAILS

• The PIL was heard by a 5 judge bench of Calcutta High Court comprising of Chief Justice of Calcutta HC Rajesh Bindal, Justice I.P Mukherjee, Justice Soumen Sen, Justice Subrata Talukdar and Justice Harish Tandon.
• The plea stated that after the declaration of the 2021 election results in West Bengal the workers and activists of the ruling party started to attack the houses of the opposition party activists.
• These attacks did not stop till here even innocent people were attacked, their houses looted and ravaged only because they did notvote for TMC and instead cast their votes toanother opposition party based on an estimation made by local party leaders.

FURTHER DETAILS

• The PIL further highlighted that livestock of innocent and poor people have been stolen and the people were driven out from their place.
• Though, after poll violence, does occur always in the State but this time the people were attacked by local hooligansin the name of religion who supported the opposition party.
• The plea hits out at the actions of the respondents who failed in their particular duties to prevent post-poll violence in the State of West Bengal.
• Also, due to fake news being circulated on social media has created disharmony amongst different religion and communities in the State of West Bengal while the State administration is silent on the whole matter.

CURRENT SCENARIO

• The Calcutta HC asked the advocate general to file an affidavit in this regards for which he has sought adjournment for filing the affidavit. The report must specify the areas affected due to violence, steps and measures taken to prevent and control this violence.
• The matter is slated to be heard by the High Court on 10th May 2021.
• As a matter of fact, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia has also moved the Supreme Court on the same matter and asked for a CBI enquiry into this matter.

What are your views on post-poll violence in the State of West Bengal? Comment below.