Why Should Those Who Were Injured During Panchayat Polls Not Be Given Compensation? Calcutta High Court Issues Notice To State

The Calcutta High Court today directed the State to file an affidavit disclosing details of those who lost their lives during violence which erupted in course of the WB Panchayat Elections 2023, as well as details of their family members to whom ex-gratia compensation & compassionate employment had been provided under the State’s scheme.

In further directing the State to answer why those who were injured or grievously injured during the aforesaid violence were not given any compensation, a division-bench of CJ TS Sivagnanam, and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya observed:

“Petitioner’s concern is that it is not clear as to how many persons have been given benefit of the aforesaid scheme. We find that persons who were injured, some grievously, during Panchayat poll violence, have not been compensated…therefore the State shall disclose the following details: i) names of deceased who died in any incident related to Panchayat elections 2023, ii) names of all persons [given compassionate employment], iii) names of people to whom Rs 2 lakh was given as ex-gratia being family members of those who died. State government shall state as to why those who were injured in any incident related to panchayat elections 2023, should not be adequately compensated?”

These observations came in continued hearings of writ petitions surrounding the violence that erupted during the West Bengal Panchayat Elections 2023.

Court is also seized of contempt applications against the State and WB State Election Commission due to its alleged mismanagement of the election process, in violation of Court orders, leading to large scale violence, and loss of life.

Matters have been listed for further orders on the 26^th September,

Case: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury v State of West Bengal & ors and connected applications

Case No: WPA(P)/351/2023