Illegal Justice: Kangaroo Courts In West Bengal’s Vigilantism

IN A NUTSHELL

A disturbing video from Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur district, has sparked outrage across West Bengal. The footage shows Tajemul, alias ‘JCB’, brutally assaulting a woman and another man in his ‘insaaf sabha’, where he claims to deliver swift justice. The incident has drawn scrutiny to the proliferation of ‘kangaroo courts’ in the region, operating outside legal boundaries. 

Critics, including opposition parties, have lambasted the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government for failing to uploading law and order, alleging complicity in allowing such extrajudicial actions. 

Tajemul, was seen brutally beating up the woman and another man with a bamboo stick. It was alleged that the couple in question was engaged an ‘unsocial’ relationship and Tajemul was condemning the same in his “Salishi Sabha” (Kangaroo court). 
Tajemul Haque, locally known as ‘JCB’, has been identified to be a close associate of Chopra TMC MLA Hamidur Rahaman. He is known for his infamous makeshift local tribunal called ‘insaaf sabha’ or ‘kangaroo court’.

The video was shared by the BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya on X. He alleged that Tajemul was a self-proclaimed enforcer of ‘quick justice’ and a criminal with murder and rape charges. 

What is a Kangaroo Court?

A kangaroo court is an unofficial and unauthorized tribunal that operates beyond the recognized legal standards and procedures. It often disregards due processes, impartiality, fairness, and without legal authority. The term ‘kangaroo court’ is typically used pejoratively to describe a venue where justice is dispensed arbitrarily, often with predetermined outcomes and without legitimate authority. 
In modern legal settings, if a court of law refers to another as a kangaroo court, it often indicates the intention to overrule its decision due to perceived injustice. 

LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS

The West Bengal Police Registered a suo motu case against Tajemul after the video went viral. 
Tajemul has been promptly identified and arrested by the police under the following charges of IPC:

• Section 325 : Punishment for causing grievous hurt
• Section 341 : Punishment for wrongful restraint
• Section 354 : deals with Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
• Section 506 : Punishment for criminal intimidation
• Section 34   : Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. 

Additionally, the victim couple has been provided protection by the police following the assault. The Police has also initiated raids to apprehend other suspects involved in the incident.

POLITICAL BACKLASH

Opposition parties, including BJP and CPI(M), have vehemently denounced the assault and criticized the ruling TMC government alleging that incidents such as these are a blatant display of the state government’s failure to uphold law and order. 

TMC has been accused of being complicit in allowing the operation of kangaroo courts by the opposition. The allege that the proliferation of such extrajudicial practices is a direct result of TMC’s governance. 

The accused, Tajemul, is allegedly a close associate of TMC MLA Hamidur Rahaman, which suggests TMC’s tolerance of such vigilante justice mechanisms. 

The Public and critics are demanding accountability from the TMC government and Chief Minister Banerjee. They assert that the administration must implement stronger measures to dismantle these illegal courts and restore faith in the formal justice system. 

The operation of the unauthorized kangaroo court run by Tajemul have raised serious concerns about the decline of legal standards and human rights in the state. This blatant act of vigilantism highlights a troubling breakdown of law and order, prompting critics to urge TMC government to take strong actions. 

This shameful incident underscores the urgent necessity for the administration to dismantle these unlawful courts and restore public trust in the formal justice system. The eyes of the nation are now on the West Bengal government as it addresses this pressing issue.